Notes
Matches 15,951 to 16,000 of 23,923
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| 15951 | In 1777, at age 16, enlisted in the Army. He again served in 1779, and was corporal at the siege of Yorktown, conducting prisoners to Winchester after the surrender. [DAR] | NORRIS, John (I125194)
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| 15952 | In 1785, Phebe Tucker Cunningham's home was attacked and destroyed by Indians. They took her captive, but only after she was forced to witness the murder of four of her children. After three years in captivity, negotiations resulted in her release. A full-length book chronicling her life and ordeal was published in 2013, entitled "A Woman of Courage on the West Virginia Frontier: Phebe Tucker Cunningham," by Robert N. Thompson. A Woman of Courage on the West Virginia Frontier: Phebe Tucker Cunningham  Her capture and ultimate release were described by Minnie Kendall Lowther in Chapter IV of her 1911 book "The History of Ritchie County," and is provided here in its entirety: Thomas and Phebe Cunningham The year 1807 was marked by the coming of Thomas and Phebe Cunningham, from Harrison county. Though many historic reminiscences cluster about the names of the brave-hearted pioneers of this county, perhaps no other one is of such absorbing Interest as the one that hangs about the memory of Thomas and Phebe Cunningham; And, perhaps, too, no other pioneer family is more largely represented among the Present citizenship of the county; and from the pages of "Border Warfare" we glean the story of their adventure with the Indians, before they became identified with the history of Ritchie county: In 1785, when our tragical story opens, Thomas Cunningham and his brother, Edward,resided in Harrison county on Bingamon creek, a branch of the West fork, in adjoining cabins. Thomas was absent on a trading expedition, when six indians made their appearance at his home. Mrs. Cunningham and the four children were gathered about the dinner-table when one entered, and closing the door behind him, stood with drawn tomahawk for a few moments; then, having at once apprehended danger from the other cabin, and having no such fear of the helpless mother and children, he seemed for a time only intent upon his own escape. Edward, seeing the Indian enter his brother's cabin, secured his own door, and, stepping to a small opening in the wall, stood ready to fire when the intruder should make his appearance; but in Thomas' cabin was a like aperature, and through it the Indian fired at Edward, and gave the signal for victory, which was answered by Edward, who saw the aim of the savage in time to save his life. So narrow was his escape that the bark from the log struck him in the face. The Indian, seeing that he had missed his aim, at once seized and adz and Began Cutting an outlet through the back of the cabin, so that he could escape without danger From Edward's house. While thus engaged, he asked Mrs. Cunningham how many were In the other cabin, and she tacitly replied by holding up the fingers of both hands. Just after the firing had ceased another Indian entered the yard, and, seeing Edward's gun through the port hole, beat a hasty retreat, but Edward fired, the bullet taking effect in the Indian's hip; he managed, however, to reach some place of safety before Cunningham could again load his gun. Mrs. Cunningham made no effort to escape, for she felt that death only awaited her at the hands of the lurking foe without. To escape with her Children was impossible; and to leave them at the mercy of this savage Monster was not to be thought of. So she cherished the hope that he might quietly withdraw, but the fallacy of such a hope was soon evident, when he sank his ruthless tomahawk into the brains of one of her children, and casting its scarcely lifeless form into the yard, ordered her to follow him. She, knowing that resistance meant certain death, quietly obeyed, stepping over the dead body of her child, as she passed out with her babe in her arms, and the other two children clinging to her and screaming frantically at the horror of the sight. When all were outside, scalping the dead boy, he set fire to the house, and withdrew to a high point in the field, where he joined his two companion, who were caring for the wounded Indian. The other two were left to guard the door of Edward's house, so that they could strike the fatal blow when the flames should drive them out; but fortunately the family were able to extinguish the fire from within by tearing the boards from the roof, though the Indians kept up their firing all the while. Without hope of accomplishing more, and fearing detection, they gathered together, and, having tomahawked the elder Cunningham boy and his little sister - whom they beat against a tree until life was extinct - they took their departure. Mrs. Cunningham said that the last she was of her little daughter was one quivering foot sticking up from behind a log, where she had been thrown. The poor mother stood aghast, dazed with grief, momentarily expecting the death blow to fall upon her and the little one at her breast. But a more cruel fate awaited her - that of the life of a captive. From this awful scene, she was taken to a cave. (This cave is said to be about two miles from the scene of the capture, on Little Indian run - a branch of Bingamon creek - in Harrison county.) Here the Indians remained until night, and under cover of darkness, returned to the home of Edward Cunningham, and, finding it deserted, plundered, and set it on fire. Mr. Cunningham and his family had taken refuge in the forest during the night, the nearest settlement being eight or ten miles distant, and on the following morning gave the alarm; and a company of men were soon in pursuit. When they reached the scene of the tragedy, finding the cabins in ashes, and being unable to follow the trail, so carefully had it been covered, they buried the remains of the children and returned to their homes. But after the lapse of a few days, circumstances pointed to the suspicion that the savages were still in the vicinity, and another search was instituted, in which the trail was followed to the mouth of the cave and lost. But Major Robinson, being familiar with the forest, and after dwelling upon the incidents of the day, remembered the cave, and upon investigating, found that it had been their hiding place, but was now deserted. They had resumed their journey during the night, having been detained here by the wounded Indian, who, Mrs. Cunningham said, was borne from the cave, and she never saw him again. She supposed that he was dead, and that his remains were sunk in a pool near by. She said that the whites were so near several times that she could distinctly hear their voices; that they stood upon the rock above her head. But a savage stood over her with an uplifted tomahawk, commanding silence, and forcing her to keep the child to her breast, lest its cries should lead to their apprehension. Owing to this delay, they did not reach their own country for some time, and the poor captive's suffering from hunger, fatigue and grief, was almost beyond human endurance; and the helpless infant at the breast, sought milk and obtained blood instead. The Indians, observing this, ended its sufferings by tomahawk, while it clung to its mother's bosom, and then cast its lifeless form beside the pathway, without leaf or branch to protect it from the beasts of prey. No tongue or pen can describe the anguish of the suffering mother, whose only sustenance for ten days was the head of a wild turkey and three pawpaws. By the frequent wading of streams, her feet had become so scalded, that when she reached the village of the Delawares and was permitted to remove her stockings, the nails and skin came with them. Yet, on the following day, she was compelled to continue her journey. A humane Indian of the village somewhat alleviated her pain by an application of sanative herbs. One incident of the dreadful march, which has been omitted by the historian, but which will doubtless add interest here, we glean from the Autobiography of the late Rev. James L. Clarke, who heard it from her own lips, and who tells it in the following language: "It was during the painful march after the murder of her babe, that she was converted. Overwhelmed and horrified at the murder of her children, and the terrible suffering she was then undergoing, she longed to die, and wished the savages would kill her". "One day while wishing for death, the question was forced into her mind, 'Are you prepared to die?' It awakened her, she was that she was a sinner, and if she died as she had lived, she would be lost and would have to endure suffering forever to which the sufferings of the present would bear no comparison, and that she must be forever separated from her children, whom she had no doubt were now in Heaven". "She now became very much alarmed and feared that they would kill her before she was prepared to die. Her sins became a burden too intolerable to be borne, and She went to Him who said 'Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest". "One night after the Indians had lain down in a circle around the fire, with her inside the circle, she kneeled down at the foot of a tree and in her agony wrestled with God in prayer, and taking Jesus as her Savior, the blessing came in power. She sprang to her feet clapping her hands, and shouting at the top of her voice, 'Glory to God.' The savages raised upon their elbows, gave the Indian 'yough', watched her for a while, and lay down again. She continued to shout for some time, the fear of death was gone, and her soul was exceedingly happy." And from this time until her death, she continued a faithful devoted Christian. When the home of her captors was reached, she received no barbarous treatment, But she was filled with fear and the apprehension of some impending doom. Everything about her seemed to bode evil. She was delivered into the hands of the father of the wounded and missing Indian, and was compelled to wear her soiled clothing, which was regarded to be a bad omen for a captive. And thus, for three years her captivity continued. A conference, preparatory to a treaty between the Whites and the Indians, was pending, when, one evening, she noticed an unusual commotion in the village, and, upon inquiry, learned the presence of the great Simon Girty occasioned it. She determined to ask him to intercede for her release, and on the following day, seeing him passing by on horseback, she went to him and lay hold of his stirrup, and implored his interference in her behalf, which at first, was only met with derision; but though the heart of this chieftain had long been a stranger to tenderness and sympathy, her entreaties finally succeeded in touching, his better nature, and he made intercession for her, secured her release, made provisions for her ransom, and had her conveyed to the Commissioners who negotiated the treaty. During the autumn of 1788, having been in captivity for three long, weary years, she was taken to a great Indian conference, at the foot of the Maumee rapids, on or near the present site of Perrysburg, Ohio; and while here, Captain Girty brought the case before the British agent, McKee, who furnished the trinkets for the ransom, and she was set free; and from here, she went to Kentucky with two gentlemen, who came to this conference in quest of their captive children. After much difficulty and no little delay, she finally reached her old home - the home of Edward Cunningham - in Harrison county, and found that her husband, on hearing of her release, had gone in quest of her. Depressed by the dis- appointment of not meeting him, and by the thought of the danger and peril that attended his every footstep, she could not enter into the spirit of rejoicing, that her homecoming had occasioned; but within a few days her husband, learning that she was homeward bound, returned, and with joy unspeakable, clasped to his bosom again the long lost wife. Though the remembrance of the tragic fate of their children shadowed the joy of their reunion, yet, time alleviated their sorrow, when other, and more fortunate, children came to bless their home. and from these children are descended no small percent of the present population of Ritchie county. The Cunninghams are of Irish lineage. Some time before the Revolutionary war, Hugh Cunningham and his wife, Nancy, with their family of eight sons (Adam, Ephraim, Benjamin, Joseph, William, Walter, Edward and Thomas) came from Dublin, Ireland, and settled on the banks of the Potomac, in Fairfax county, Virginia; and, shortly after the close of the Revolutionary war, Thomas, Adam, Edward, Walter, and, perhaps, more of the brothers, came to Harrison county, where they entered and patented large tracts of land under the "tomahawk title" on Bingamon creek. Here they resided when our tragic story opened. Thomas Cunningham and his wife, Phebe Tucker Cunningham, were born across the Sea. He, in Ireland, and she in England of Scottish parentage, in 1761. He had served as a Revolutionary soldier, before becoming distinguished by this "adventure among the Indians." In 1807, as above stated, they came to this county, and settled on what is now The W. E. Hill and the Frederick homesteads. Here they continued to reside until the death of Mr. Cunningham, in 1826. He was the first Methodist Episcopal minister in this part of the county, and at his home the first class was organized. He was only a lay minister at this time, but he was licensed to Preach, at Zanesville, Ohio, on September 5, 1817; and this license, which was written upon parchment, is now a cherished possession of his great-grandson, John C. Cunningham, of Eva. On the Frederick homestead, not far from the present Frederick residence, he sleeps, in an almost nameless grave. Mrs. Cunningham spent the last years of her life in Calhoun county with her daughter, Mrs. Isaac Collins; and, here, In 1845, she passed away in triumph. "The voice that shouted 'Glory to God' in the midst of the savages, shouted victory in death." On the Collins homestead, near Freed, she is sleeping. The late Rev. James L. Clarke delivered the memorial sermon at her funeral, and in dwelling on her triumphant death afterwards, he said, &qout;I could not help thinking of the joyful meeting she had with her children in the presence of Him who had said, 'Suffer little children to come unto me, for of such is the Kingdom of God.'" The late children of these distinguished pioneers were as follows: Henry, Lydia, Walter, and Thomas, who were killed by the Indians; and William - the first born after their reunion - who became a minister in 1810, and two years later took a transfer to the Ohio conference, where he finished his earthly career at Horner, in Licking county; John, of Spencer; Mrs. Rachel (Isaac) Collins, Calhoun county; Mrs. Leah Hardman, who sleeps at Hardman chapel; Mrs. Barbara Hill, Eddyville, Iowa; and Benjamin, of Eva. Among the late grandsons and granddaughters of these venerable people, who were the heads of well known families of this county, were: A.P., J.S., and Washington Hardman, Hardman chapel; Mrs. John Beall, Leatherbrake; Thomas Hardman, Auburn; Mrs. George Wells, Cornwallis; Mrs. J. M. McWhorter, Buckhannon; Mrs. Hannah Smith, Smithville; Mr. And Mrs. Wilson B. Cunningham; and Eli R. Cunningham, of Eva. Among the surviving ones are: John R. Cunningham Gilmer county; Mrs. Nancy Dilworth, Eaton; and Mrs. Ira S. Goff, Walker station. Besides quite an army of great-grandchildren, who are well known citizens - Martin Smith, Mrs. Alfred Barr, Mrs. M. A. Ayres, and Alvis Smith, of Smithville, Mrs. James Rexroad, of Den run, and the late Mrs. W. E. Hill, of Fonzo, are among them. Mrs. Hill enjoyed the privilege of residing almost on the very spot where the cabin of her illustrious great-grandparents stood for several years just before her death in 1910. Edward Cunningham. - Edward Cunningham and his wife, Sarah Price Cunningham, whom he married in Fairfax county, Virginia, lived and died in Harrison county, where "they fought the redskins"; and here on their old homestead, they sleep; but some of their lineal descendants belong to the present citizenship of this county. - To their grandson, Perry J. Cunningham,of Pennsboro, we are indebted for this sketch. Their children, William, Joseph, Thomas, Benjamin, and Mrs. Mary Moore sleep in Harrison county; Mrs. Elizabeth Robinson at Fairfield, Ohio; Mrs. Keturah Hill, In Gilmer county; and Enoch M. Cunningham in Randolph county. Joseph, better known as "Injun Joe", was captured by the Shawnee Indians, while hiding under the treadles in the loom house, when he was but a lad of eight summers, and was adopted by an Indian family, and remained among them for sixteen years, or until a short time after Gen. Wayne's treaty with the Indians. he became a great hunter while among them, and after his return home, he served as pilot for the pioneer surveyors of the large and original tracts of land in this and adjoining counties; and on one of these expeditions, with John Murphy, he experienced a dreadful hand to hand encounter with a huge black bear, which he finally succeeded in killing with his knife; and then pried its jaws open to relieve his knee, which had been the victim of bruin's last struggle, and which was lamed for the remainder of his life. He afterwards married a Miss Ayres, and became the father of two daughters, and One son; viz., the late Mrs. Samuel Warne, of Parkersburg; Mrs. George Sires, of Clarksburg; and the late Dr. John Cunningham, of Illinois. Enoch M. Cunningham was the only one of Edward's children that figured among the early settlers of this county. In 1820, he married Miss Jane Stuart, daughter of William Stuart, an early settler on Hughes River above Goff's, and from the Stuart homestead, in 1840, he moved to Smithville. He was the father of the following named children: Harrison B. Cunningham, an early merchant of Harris- ville; Martha became Mrs. Barnes Smith, of Smithville; and her twin sister, Sarah Salina, married Jonathan H. Haddox, of Smithville, later of Harrisville; Amy married Hannibal C. Brannon, and Edna M., Williams Moats, of Harrisville. Among his great-grandchildren, who are well known in this county, are the late C. E. Haddox, of Moundsville; C. M. Haddox, of Charleston; Mrs. Van A. Zevely, of Cairo; and Mrs. Joseph Foster, of Pennsboro. | TUCKER, Phebe (I47842)
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| 15953 | In 1794 John P. Duvall of Mason, Kentucky sold to John Davis (1754-1842) of Harrison County, Virginia 500 acres on Middle Island Creek in Ohio County, Virginia for 500 pounds. This land adjoined John P. Duvall's resident right which he had obtained from Land Office Treasury Warrant No. 15,345, dated April 2, 1783. On December 11, 1797, John Davis of Harrison County, Virginia sold to his brother William "Greenbrier Billy" Davis of Ohio County, Virginia for 100 pounds the same 500 acres he had purchased from John P. Duvall in 1794 [Harrison County Deed Book 3, p. 264]. On June 17, 1805, William "Greenbrier Billy" Davis sold to his son Peter Davis (1783-1873) for 100 dollars 60 acres described as "on Middle Island Creek, corner of John P. Duvall's resident right" [Harrison County Deed Book 5, Page 522]. Given this description, it is clear that these 60 acres were part of the 500 acres originally purchased from John P. Duvall. On August 15, 1809, Peter Davis sold those 60 acres to his brother George J. Davis [Harrison County Deed Book 8, p. 258]. On November 9, 1827, George J. & Catherine (Davis) Davis sold to William Fitz Randolph those same 60 acres plus 16 additional adjoining acres previously owned by John & Esther (Davis) Hutson. Based on the foregoing land transactions, we know with certainty that William "Greenbrier Billy" Davis was living on Greenbrier Run in present-day Doddridge County in 1797 when he purchased the 500 acres from his brother John Davis. The provenance of that land was from John P. Duvall to John Davis, to his brother William "Greenbrier Billy" Davis, to his son Peter Davis, to his brother George J. Davis, and then to William Fitz Randolph, (1800-1861) whose two-story brick home is still standing on Greenbrier Run. William "Greenbrier Billy" Davis and his wife Elizabeth died on the same day. | Family: William "Greenbrier Billy" DAVIS / Elizabeth JOHNSTON (F15037)
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| 15954 | In 1799, the widowed Jane Lewis Maxwell and her six children moved from Pennsylvania to Harrison County, settling on land owned by Col. William Lowther (1742-1814) near present-day West Milford, W.Va. She later moved to Lost Creek, and finally to near present-day Jane Lew in Lewis County. The town Jane Lew was named by her son, Lewis, in her honor. | LEWIS, Jane (I34239)
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| 15955 | In 1805, John England signed a petition in Middle Island, Harrison County, Virginia. That part of Harrison County is known to be present-day Doddridge County, West Virginia. | ENGLAND, John (I112853)
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| 15956 | In 1812, James Gaston sold his property in Washington Co, PA to his brother Samuel (b. 1772). Although reared in Pennsylvania, most of James' and Mary's children later moved west. | GASTON, James (twin) (I3426)
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| 15957 | In 1815, John Lippincott's parents migrated from Westmoreland Co, PA to Belmont Co, OH. "They came down the Ohio River on a flatboat and landed on Wheeling Island, where they camped out two days and nights before a team could be procured to carry them to Morristown. On the 21st of April, that year, they reached their destination and settled on the lot where William Handy now lives, where his father engaged in the hotel business and continued until 1827, when our subject succeeded him. ... The subject of this sketch has seen the following distinguished gentlemen: James Monroe in 1819; General Jackson in 1824; met Henry Clay frequently; Daniel Webster and son breakfasted at his house in 1830; saw Almonte and Santa Anna, the Mexican statesman and generals in 1853, as they were carried prisoners from their homes to Washington City. He and his wife have been members of the Presbyterian Church for over 50 years. He has served as an elder for 20 years. He has entertained in his hotel persons who traveled on horseback all the way from New Orleans. In early days there were no banks west, and merchants would travel in companies of 18 to 20 persons together, carrying leather bags containing about $2,000 in Spanish eagles. This aged and respected couple are living near the spot where they spent their childhood days." | LIPPINCOTT, John (I3593)
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| 15958 | In 1818, John Douglass left his native Scotland with his wife and six children to seek a new life in America. Their ship, the Queen Anne, arrived in Philadelphia, and it was there, about a week later, that John Douglass died of fever and was buried. | DOUGLASS, John (I50858)
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| 15959 | In 1820, Isaac Israel's household included a total of 14 persons, of which six were slaves: 3 - Male under 14 1 - Male 14 thru 25 1 - Female 26 thru 44 1 - Female 45 and over | ISRAEL, Isaac (I46349)
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| 15960 | In 1820, the tax list for Harrison County, Virginia (now West Virginia), shows that William "Bottom Billy" Davis had one slave, gender not stated. But the 1820 Federal Census for Harrison County does not show him has having any slaves. | Family: William "Bottom Billy" DAVIS / Elizabeth Anna HAVENS (F15030)
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| 15961 | In 1822, Alexander Lowther was the first settler in, and founder of, the community of Oxford, in present-day Doddridge County, WV, near the Ritchie County border. He was one of the earliest Justices of the Peace in the region. We previously reported another child with this family, a daughter Emily, b. 1819, d. 1903, the only basis for which was Don Norman's "Descendants of Robert Lowther." We now believe that to have been an error that resulted from confusion with son Alexander (1816-1903) and his wife Emily (1819-1892). Similarly, we had also previously reported another son with this family, Sinnett, b. 1830, d. 1919, citing the same source. But no corroborating evidence of that child has been found, and we now believe his inclusion to have been in error, possibly resulting from confusion with son John Alexander (b. 1820) and his wife Elizabeth Sinnett (1831-1913). 1830 Census, Harrison County, Virginia (now West Virginia), Western District: Household of Alexander Lowther: 1 male age 30-40 (this would be Alexander himself) 2 males age 10-15 (Alexander, William) 2 males age 5-10 (John, Jesse) 1 male under 5 (Archibald) 1 female age 30-40 (wife Sarah) 1 female age 10-15 (Margaret, Rebecca .... one is not counted) 1 female under 5 (Elizabeth) With the one exception as noted, these counts conform closely to this family as we have it. 1840 Census, Harrison County, Virginia (now West Virginia): Household of Alexander Lowther: 1 male age 40-50 (Alexander himself) 1 male age 20-30 (William) 2 males age 15-20 (John, Jesse) 1 male age 10-15 (Archibald) 2 males age 5-10 (Robert, Andrew) 1 female age 40-50 (wife Sarah) 1 female age 20-30 (Margaret) 1 female age 10-15 (Elizabeth) Son Alexander had married in 1837, but Rebecca (age 16) and Catherine (age 6) are not accounted for at all. 1850 Census, Ritchie County, Virginia (now West Virginia), Western District, enumerated on Sep 4 1850: Alex Lowther, 59, farmer; Rachel, 49; Robert, 19; Jackson, 17; Cath, 16; Rebecca, 18; Sarah, 9; Philander S. Austin, 29, merchant. (Note: Sequence and ages are exactly as listed on the census form. Rebecca's placement and age are curious, since she is known from other census returns and her death record to have been born in 1824.) 1860 Census, Ritchie County, Virginia (now West Virginia), enumerated on Jul 26 1860: Alexander Lowther, 69, farmer; Rachel Lowther, 59; Sarah J. Lowther, 19; Rachel J. Bice, 13. (Note: Relationship of Rachel Bice to this family is not known.) Alexander Lowther's grandson, the Rev. Granville Lowther (1848-1933), D.D., wrote in 1907: "Another son, Alexander Lowther, my grandfather, was in temperament nervous, quick and excitable; a man of strong will power, who scoffed at the idea of failure. He was hopeful, cheerful and sociable, with enough imagination to have been a poet, novelist, or orator; but living where these powers were not in demand, he exercised his imagination in laying plans for the future of his children, building machinery and buying almost every patent device that agents tried to sell to him. He was hospitable to a fault, and for miles in every direction people knew that if they reached 'Uncle Alex Lowther's' about meal time or night, food or lodging were as free as the water from the well. In this way he gave to travellers hundreds of dollars, but gained in return the information and sociability they brought into his home, for it was before the days of newspapers, railroads or telegraph, and the principal source of information of a public character was gained from travellers passing from place to place on horseback. He was never a member of church, inclining to a belief in the doctrine of Universalism. When he was approaching death, he appeared for a time a little disturbed about his destiny in the future, until someone read to him the language of Christ, 'I was hungered and ye gave me meat; thirsty and ye gave me drink; a stranger and ye took me in; naked and ye clothed me.' When the reading was finished, he seemed at perfect ease and to rest his hope of salvation upon it." "From his widow's claim for pension, admitted December 15, 1879, it is shown that "Alexander Lowther, when twenty or twenty-one years old, was drafted from Harrison County, Virginia, in Captain John Bozarth's Company, Virginia Militia, War of 1812, and served from August 30 to December 10, 1814. Was on duty at Norfolk, Virginia. Occupation farmer. Born in Harrison County, Virginia. ... Died April 30, 1864. Widow's maiden name, Rachel M. Neel; married Alexander Lowther, June 6, 1842." Widow was granted eight dollars a month from March 9, 1818, the date of approval of this act." Above quote from "Border Settlers of Northwestern Virginia from 1768 to 1795 ... " by Lucullus Virgil McWhorter, 1915, pages 270-271. In her 1911 "History of Ritchie County," p. 582, Minnie Kendall Lowther reported: "Alexander Lowther, Sr., the first settler [of Oxford, Ritchie County, West Virginia], was its founder. He was born in Harrison county on January 14, 1791, and was the son of William and Margaret Morrison Lowther, and the grandson of Col. William. He married Miss Sarah Ireland, daughter of Alexander Ireland, who first saw the light of day on August 13, 1796; and near the year 1820, he came to this county and settled on the north bank of Hughes River, just opposite the mouth of the Middle Fork, on land that now belongs to G.M. Ireland -- the site of this old cabin is said to be marked by an oil well -- and from here he went to Oxford, where he erected the old log residence, which, though in a state of dilapidation, still stands at the western edge of the village. Here, in 1841, a great shadow fell upon the home when the beloved wife and mother 'passed from sight.' Some time after this sad event he married Mrs. Rachel Stout Neal, mother of M.A. Neal of Ellenboro, and the one child of this union died in infancy. He was a soldier of the War of 1812, and was one of the earliest justices of the peace of the county. He died at Oxford on April 20, 1864, and sleeps in the White Oak Cemetery. His first wife lies near the M.P. Church at this place, and the second at Pullman." | LOWTHER, Alexander J. (I31179)
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| 15962 | In 1834, Martin Sommerville's father, Robert, was the first settler at Bone Creek, near Auburn in Ritchie County. The creek took its name from a bone lick there. Robert's father, James Simmeral, as the name was originally until corrupted through some errors, came from Cork, Ireland, via Delaware and Maryland to Harrison County, Virginia, where Robert was born on May 1, 1800. | SOMMERVILLE, Martin S. (I1478)
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| 15963 | In 1838, Henry B. Collins claimed 100 acres of land on the waters of Hughes River. Recorded in Wood County, Book 2, page 152. (Ritchie County was not formed until 1844.) | COLLINS, Henry B. (I53445)
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| 15964 | In 1840, he lived in the part of Harrison County that is present-day Doddridge County. This is according to names of neighbors on the 1840 census that match the same names in 1846 Doddridge County tax records. Doddridge County was formed on 4 February 1845 from parts of Harrison, Lewis, Ritchie and Tyler counties. | JACO, Luke (I91841)
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| 15965 | In 1840, he was enumerated as the only member of the household. | MAXWELL, Lewis (I34201)
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| 15966 | In 1840, lived in present day Doddridge County according to names of neighbors on the 1840 census that match the same names in 1846 Doddridge County tax records. | JACO, Luke (I91841)
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| 15967 | In 1840, William L. Dotson lived in the part of Harrison County that is present-day Doddridge County. This is according to names of neighbors on the 1840 census that match the same names in 1846 Doddridge County tax records. Doddridge County was formed on 4 February 1845 from parts of Harrison, Lewis, Ritchie and Tyler counties. His neignbors in 1840 included Thomas Bond, Nathan Davis, Luke Jaco, Alexander Sommerville, Paulser Flesher, and several Dotson families. William L Dotson 1840 United States Federal Census Name William L Dotson Residence Date 1840 Home in 1840 (City, County, State) Harrison, Virginia Free White Persons - Males - Under 5 1 Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14 1 Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19 1 Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29 1 Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39 1 Free White Persons - Females - 50 thru 59 1 Persons Employed in Agriculture 3 No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write 1 Free White Persons - Under 20 3 Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 2 Total Free White Persons 6 Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves 6 | DOTSON, William L. (I59831)
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| 15968 | In 1845, Samuel Preston Fitz Randolph owned 50 acres of land at the mouth of Blue Stone, one-half mile south of the Doddridge County court house. (per Doddridge County Land Book 1845-1854) 1850 Census, Doddridge Co, Virginia (now West Virginia), enumerated on Jul 22 1850: Samuel P. Randolph, 41, farmer and Clerk of County Court, value of real estate owned $6,000; Hannah Randolph, 46; Virginia Randolph, 10; Charles C. Davis, 19, farmer; Eli Davis, 24, farmer; Hannah Buck, 19. All born in Virginia except for Charles C. Davis, who was born in Ohio. NOTE: In 1858, Hannah Buck became the second wife of Mark Davis, a cousin of Hannah Davis Randolph. In the late 1860s, the Doddridge County Court awarded Charles C. Davis guardianship of Semantha Tucker, b. 1862, following the Civil War death of her father Grove Tucker and the subsequent remarriage of her mother, Virginia Stout. Charles C. Davis was Samuel P. Randolph's nephew, the son of Samuel's sister Lurana/Rulana. His standing in gaining guardianship of Semantha Tucker is not clear. 1860 Census, Doddridge Co, Virginia (now West Virginia), enumerated on Jul 16 1860: S. P. F. Randolph, 52, farmer, value of real estate $10,000, value of personal estate $4757; Hannah, 55; P. Stout, black male, 45, farm laborer, unable to read or write. NOTE: Peter Stout was a former slave of John Mackie and his wife Mary Plummer Mackie. According to the will of John Mackie, who died in 1851, Peter Stout was to remain Mary Mackie's slave until her death, at which time he was to be freed. The 1860 Federal Census Slave Schedule for Doddridge County, enumerated on Jun 1 1860, contains the following entry: Slave owner: S P F Randolph Description of slaves: 1 black female, age 39 1 black female, age 8 | Family: Samuel Preston F. RANDOLPH / Hannah DAVIS (F20306)
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| 15969 | In 1847, when in western Virginia on their way to the Ohio River, Francis Marion Franklin Smith and his traveling companions stopped overnight at a tavern kept by Matthew Neely. There he met Mr. Neely's daughter, Julia Ann. This was a fateful encounter, for he did not return to Virginia with his companions, but married Julia Ann and lived the rest of his life in Doddridge County. The young couple settled first in West Union. They later bought land three miles to the east, which had formerly belonged to Julia Ann's grandfather, Elijah Newlon, and they remained there till their deaths. That settlement eventually became known as Smithton, which was re-named Smithburg in about 1923. F. M. F. Smith was the first postmaster and the first stationmaster of the community which bears his name. Source: Smith family history prepared by the F. M. F. Smith's granddaughter Eleanor Jones Cook (1899-1965), on file at Doddridge County Historical Society. 1850 Census Doddridge Co, Virginia (now West Virginia), enumerated on Jul 16 1850 in the Town of West Union: Francis F. M. Smith, 27, hotel keeper, value of real estate $3,000; Julia A. Smith, 26; Charlotte I. Smith, 7 months; Charlotte Smith, 62 (presumably Francis Smith's mother). The following enumerated persons were presumably tenants of Francis Smith's hotel: Floyd Neely, 27, miller, value of real estate $1,000 (brother of Julia Neely Smith); E. L. Hewett, 25, lawyer; Benjamin W. Jackson, 24, lawyer, value of real estate $900; John McCann, 22, stage driver; Evan Gatrell, 21, stage driver; Milly Cain, 26; Emily Neely, 11 (sister of Julia Neely Smith). All born in Virginia. NOTE: E. L. Hewett was Edwin Littleton Smith, a prominent attorney from Richmond, Virginia. Milly Cain was otherwise known as Amelia Cain, who later married the renowned Joseph H. Diss Debar. The 1850 Federal Census Slave Schedule for Doddridge County contains the following entries: Slave owner: F M F Smith. Description of slave: Black female, age 11. Slave owner: Charlotte Smith. Description of slave: Black female, age 11. 1860 Census, Doddridge Co, Virginia (now West Virginia): F. M. F. Smith, 38, farmer; J. A. Smith (female), 39; Herbert Smith, 3; E. M. Smith (female), 1; J. Neely (male), 14; N. (surname not clear) (male), 14; Silas Davis, 24. The 1860 Federal Census Slave Schedule for Doddridge County, enumerated on Jun 1 1860, contains the following entry: Slave owner: F M F Smith Description of slaves: 1 black female, age 20 1 black female, age 13 1880 Census, Doddridge Co, WV (West Union District), enumerated on Jun 7 1880: F. M. F. Smith, 59, farmer; wife Julia A, 50; son F. H., 23; dau Georgia, 15, attended school within the year, cannot read/write; ward David Hunter, 10, attended school; niece Lucy McKinley, 13. NOTE: Lucy McKinley was the daughter of Julia's sister Margaret, who had died in 1869. Althought the exact location is not specified, it is almost certainly Smithton, now known as Smithburg. | Family: Francis Marion Franklin SMITH / Julia Ann NEELY (F32177)
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| 15970 | In 1849, Sarah Anne Husk and her husband Selby Wade Jr. bought a 50-acre farm on Pedlar Run from their brother-in-law Horatio Britton (husband of Sarah's sister Mary Husk). In 1851, the Wades sold the property to John Core and moved to Ritchie County. 1860 Census, Ritchie Co, Virginia (now West Virginia), enumerated on Aug 22 1880: Selby Wade, 39, farmer; Sarah A, 34; Andrew M, 13; James M, 12; Alpheus R, 10; Joseph D, 8; Thomas J, 4; Susan, 9 months. 1870 Census, Union Twp, Ritchie Co, WV: Selby Wade, age 49, farmer; wife Sarah A., age 42 (or 47); son Andrew M., age 22; son Thomas J., age 14; son John M., age 8. 1880 Census, Southwest District, Doddridge Co, WV: Sarah A. Wade as head of household, divorced, age 51, born in Pennsylvania; son Jefferson, age 22; and son Miller, age 20. | Family: Selby Jr. WADE / Sarah Anne HUSK (F267)
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| 15971 | In 1850, along with brother William, listed as Elizabeth Hansford, 6, in household of Nathan & Keziah (Bee) Prim. In 1860, along with numerous siblings, listed as S. E. Hansford, 16, in household of her father and stepmother. | HANSFORD, Sarah Elisabeth (I41019)
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| 15972 | In 1850, along with sister Elizabeth, listed as William Hansford, 9, in household of Nathan & Keziah (Bee) Prim. In 1860, along with numerous siblings, listed as W. D.. Hansford, 20, in household of his father and stepmother. | HANSFORD, William D. (I121909)
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| 15973 | In 1850, Bryan Flaherty, 32, b. Ireland, laborer, was one of many Irishmen enumerated as a group in Preston County, Virginia (now West Virginia). The few non-Irishmen enumerated were born in Pennsylvania and Maryland, with occupation given as "Boss on B & O R.R." 1860 Census, Doddridge Co, Virginia (now West Virginia), enumerated on Jun 29 1860: Brian Flurity, 35, day laborer; Judy, 35; John, 13; Thos, 11; Patrick, 7; Micheal, 4; Francis (male), 2. Brian, Judy & John born in Ireland. All others born in Virginia. But Thomas' marriage record states birthplace as Packersville, Maine. 1870 Census, Harrison Co, WV (Simpson Twp), enumerated on Oct 21 1870: Bryan Flaherty, 53, railroad laborer; Julia, 42; Patrick, 16; Michael, 12; Frank, 10; Bernard, 8; Anna E, 5. Bryan & Julia born in Ireland. All others born in Virginia/West Virginia. Bryan indicated as a citizen of the United States. 1880 Census, Harrison Co, WV (Simpson District), enumerated on Jun 5 1880: Bryant Flarety, 55, watchman on railroad; wife Julia, 55; son Patrick, 23, foreman on railroad; son Frank, 19, laborer on railroad; son Bernard, 17, laborer on railroad; dau Annie, 15. In the next household: Thos. Flarety, 25, coal miner; wife Maria, 28; dau Annie, 4; dau Mary, 3; dau Julia, 2. | Family: Bryan Bernard FLAHERTY / Julia FAHEY (F41978)
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| 15974 | In 1850, E. H. O'Donnell, 23, b. Maryland, engineer, was enumerated in Allegany, Maryland as one of many men who were presumably employees of, or affiliated with, the railroad. 1860 Census, Doddridge Co, Virginia (now West Virginia), enumerated on Jul 19 1860: E. H. O'Donnell, 31, b. Maryland, farmer, value of real estate $2000, value of personal estate $350; Susan A, 28, b. Va; E. (male), 5, b. Va. The 1860 Federal Census Slave Schedule for Doddridge County, enumerated on Jun 1 1860, contains the following entry: Slave owner: E. H. O'Donnell Description of slaves: 1 mulatto female, age 30 1 mulatto female, age 4 1870 Census, Doddridge Co, WV (Central Twp), enumerated on Jun 29 1870: Edmund H. O'Donnell Sr, 42, b. Maryland, farmer, value of real estate $2000, value of personal estate $200; Susan A, 40, b. Va; Edmund H. Jr, 14, b. Va; Louisa S, 9, b. Va; Benjamin M, 3, b. WVa; Benjamin M, Smith, 36, b. Va, farmer; Armazinda Trellinger, 23, b. Md, domestic servant. 1880 Census, Doddridge Co, WV (Central District), enumerated on Jun 5 1880: E. H. O'Donnell, 52, b. Md, farmer; wife Susan A, 50, b. Va; son Edie, 25, b. Va, farm laborer; dau Luisa, 19, b. Va; son Benjamin, 13, b. WVa. 1900 Census, Doddridge Co, WV (Central District), enumerated on Jun 9 1900: E. H. O'Donnell, 72, b. May 1828 in Md (father b. Md, mother b. NY), farmer, married 48 yrs; wife Susan A, 70, b. Mar 1830 in WVa (father b. Va, mother b. WVa), married 48 yrs, mother of 5 (or 6?) children (3 still living); son-in-law Minor E. Dotson, 36, b. Oct 1863, merchant, married 7 yrs; dau Louisa C (?) Dotson, 39, b. Oct 1860, married 7 yrs, mother of 1 child (still living); grandson Edmond B. Dotson, 6, b. Apr 1894. 1910 Census, Doddridge Co, WV (Central District), enumerated on May 7 1910: Edmund H. O'Donnell, 83, b. Md (father b. Ireland, mother b. NY), farmer, widowed; dau Louisa Dotson, 47, married 17 yrs, mother of 1 child (still living); son-in-law Minor E. Dotson, 46, married 17 yrs, farm laborer; grandson Edmond B. Dotson, 16. | Family: Edmund Henry O'DONNELL / Susan Augusta SMITH (F43184)
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| 15975 | In 1850, he was enumerated with his family, listed as Samuel T. Sherwood, age 21, farmer. In the same census in Doddridge County, he was also enumerated with the family of John J. & Mahala (Inghram) Ingle, listed as Todd Sherwood, age 22, b. in Pa, laborer. His relationship with the Ingle family is not known, but it is probably not coincidental that Ingle's father, Ezra Engle, was a gunsmith in Tyler County. John J. Ingle himself was a physician, born in Pennsylvania. | SHERWOOD, Samuel Todd (I58121)
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| 15976 | In 1850, he was in the household of widow Mary (Smith) Sayre, 43, and her children. In 1860, he was in the household of Thomas & Elizabeth (Smith) Smith, ages 77 & 69. His relationship to those families is not known. | WEEKLY, Solomon (I113083)
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| 15977 | In 1850, identified as Jane Nay, 63, she was living with her husband Fielding Nay in the household of John Bice. The next household on one side was that of Calvin Hustead, 24. On the other side was the household of William Hustead, 25. In 1860, identified as Jane Davis, 73, she was living alone. The next household was that of John C. Hustead, 35, and his family. | DAVIS, Jane "Jenny" (I98660)
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| 15978 | In 1850, identified as Merryman Freshour, age 5. In 1860, identified as Willie Freshour, age 13. | FRESHOUR, William Merryman (Melvin) (I108276)
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| 15979 | In 1850, in the nearby household of Allison Barnett and his family | STOUT, Elizabeth Ann (I41014)
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| 15980 | In 1850, listed as a laborer in the household of Franklin Maxwell. | LEGGETT, David Musgrave (I6193)
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| 15981 | In 1850, listed as Felix McNemar, head of household (with wife and 13 children), 58, b. Va, farmer, unable to read or write. In the column labeled "Whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, pauper, or convict," the enumerator entered the word "Convict." In the 1860 Census, the corresponding column was left blank. | MCNEMAR, Felix (I29014)
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| 15982 | In 1850, listed as John Shannon, 19, b. Virginia, laborer, in household of Thomas S. & Elizabeth (Jeffrey) Neely. Also in the household was Thomas Shannon, 19, relationship unknown. | SHANNON, John Robert (I99310)
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| 15983 | In 1850, listed as Synthia Russell, age 35, putting birth in about 1815. But in 1860, listed as Cyntha Russell, ag 60, putting birth in about 1810. Her daughter's marriage record gives her name as Synthany, while her son's death record has only the initial C. | ___, Synthany (I79820)
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| 15984 | In 1850, listed as William G. Russell, age 36, putting birth in about 1814. But in 1870, he was listed as William J. Russell, age 60, putting birth in about 1810. Age 70 in the 1880 Census and age 76 in death record also put birth in about 1810. In the 1870 Census, the next enumerated household on one side was that of James H. Russell, and on the other side was that of Williams Maxwell. | RUSSELL, William (I79819)
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| 15985 | In 1850, she was enumerated in the household of Ephraim & Catherine (Davis) Bee. In 1860, along with her brother Francis H. Hansford, she was in the household of Nathan J. & Keziah (Davis) Davis. A nearby household in 1860 was that of David & Susan Trough, which included their son Cyrus, Leah's future husband. | HANSFORD, Leah Frances (I92057)
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| 15986 | In 1850, she was head of household with her five sons. In 1860, she was in the household of William Leeson and his wife Mary. | WISE, Nancy (I9679)
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| 15987 | In 1850, the value of Augustine J. Smith's real estate was listed as $100,000. | SMITH, Augustine J. (I106049)
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| 15988 | In 1850, with his brother Thomas. In 1860, listed as George Maulsby, 21, b. Virginia, laborer, in household of John E. & Elizabeth Martin and their seven children. | MAULSBY, George J. (I113046)
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| 15989 | In 1850, with occupation given as teacher, he was listed in the household of John J. Ingle (age 37, b. Pa, physician) and his family. | NEELY, Alfred Newlon (I62890)
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| 15990 | In 1856 State Census of Iowa, along with his wife Sarah, in household son David Chedester and family. | CHIDESTER, John Peter (I128629)
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| 15991 | In 1860, a notation reads "Insane" | CAIN, Jane (I94245)
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| 15992 | In 1860, along with daughter Eleanor, in household of son Henry. | TUCKER, Mary (I94762)
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| 15993 | In 1860, he and his wife were enumerated in the household of their son Elizas and his family. | SNODGRASS, Isaac (I66060)
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| 15994 | In 1860, identified as Geo. Stuttler, 15. | STUTLER, Jacob Francis (I16766)
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| 15995 | In 1860, in home of daughter Rebecca Willard Brown | LOWTHER, Sudna (I31699)
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| 15996 | In 1860, in household of George W. & Mary (Carter) Cork and their family. His mother had died in 1852, and his father three years later.. | KEYS, Charles C. (I35983)
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| 15997 | In 1860, in household of James M. & Mary (Williams) Robinson. | RICHARDS, Samuel (I1706)
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| 15998 | In 1860, listed as Catharine Eaton. | SHANNON, Kate (I134823)
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| 15999 | In 1860, listed as E. J. Dotson, 18, in household of Josiah H. & Mary J. (Davis) Bee. | DOTSON, Emily Jane (I88836)
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| 16000 | In 1860, listed as Jane Greynolds, 50, born in Virginia, an idiot. | PAUGH, Virginia Jane "Jennie" (I134945)
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