CALHOUN COUNTY.
Calhoun County, the area of which is
260 square miles, was created by Act of Assembly passed March 5,
1856. It-provided that so much of the lower part of Gilmer as lies
within the following boundaries: "Beginning- at the west fork of the
Little Kanawha where the Gilmer and Wirt county line crosses the
same; thence up the West fork to the mouth of Henry's fork; thence
up said Henry's fork to the mouth of Beech fork; thence with the
dividing ridge between said Beech fork and Henry's fork to the
Gilmer county line; thence to include all the waters of said West
fork within the county of Gilmer to the Gilmer, Ripley and Ohio
turnpike to the head of Cromley's creek; thence with said turnpike
to the mouth of Bear fork of Steer creek; thence a straight line to
the head of Muscle Shoals of the Little Kanawha river; thence by the
shortest line to the top of the dividing ridge between the waters of
Tanner's fork and Laurel creek to the Ritchie county line and the
Wirt and Gilmer county line to the place of beginning, shall be and
the same is hereby established a new county, to be called Calhoun."
The county was named in honor of John C. Calhoun, so distinguished
in American politics.
The First County
Court convened at the house of Joseph W. Burson, April 14,
1856. The following justices composed it: Hiram Ferrell, Daniel
Duskey, H. R. Ferrell, Joshua L. Knight, Absalom Knotts, George
Lynch and William A. Brannon. James N. Norman qualified as the first
high sheriff of the county. He named Alpheus Norman and Philip
Norman as his deputies, which appointments the court approved. By a
viva voce vote, George W. Silcott was elected to the office of
clerk. After the transaction of other miscellaneous business, the
court adjourned to meet, in September next, at the house of
Peregriene Hays, where Arnoldsburg now
stands.
The First Circuit
Court held for the county convened on the 6th day of
October, 1856, Judge Matthew Edmiston presiding. At this court the
first grand jury was impaneled. The following gentlemen composed it:
Alexander Huffman, foreman: Jasper Ball, John H. Johnson, James P.
Hunt, Daniel Nichols, Francis Robinson, Nicholas Poling, Daniel
Stallman, Silas Petit, Joseph Hayhurst, Lemuel Haverty, Isaac
Starcher, Andrew Mace, Arnold Snider, Peter M. McCune and Anthony
Conrad. The jury retired to consider of its presentments, and
shortly reported three true bills of indictment. Some other
unimportant business being transacted, the court
adjourned.
Capture of Pedro and
White by the Indians.—In the month of September, 1777,
Leonard Pedro and William White were watching the Indian warpath
which led up the Little Kanawha. It was probably within the limits
of the present county of Calhoun that they, having eaten a late
supper, lay down to rest and were soon fast asleep. During the night
White awakened and discovered Indians near. He whispered to his
companion to lie still, hoping they might escape notice; but the
Indians sprang upon them. White pretended great friendship, and
tried to impress the Indians with the opinion that he was glad to
see them, but the savages were not to be deceived. Both men were
bound, and at daylight Pedro was painted black, which signified that
he was to be burned and White red. The Indians then returned to
their towns with the captives. White soon managed to escape, and on
foot began the long march for home. Meeting an Indian on horseback,
he shot him and appropriated his horse. Pedro was never after heard
of.
Pioneers.—In
1810, Philip Starcher built his cabin where Arnoldsburg now stands.
Soon after he was joined by Peter Coger, Isaac Mace, William
Brannon, Peter McCune and Adam O'Brien, all of whom found homes on
the West fork of the Little Kanawha. The first settler in what is
now Sheridan district was James Mayes,
who built his cabin on the Little Kanawha in 1814. At that time his
nearest neighbor was thirteen miles distant. He was soon followed in
his wild retreat by Benire Mayes, James Niler, Audrey Sharpe and
Stephen P. Burson. In 181 5, Peter McCune settled in the valley of
the West fork of the Kanawha. The solitude of his retreat was soon
broken, Anthony Parsons, Thomas Cottrell, Barnabas Cook, George
Conley and Thomas P. Brannon finding homes near him. No settlement
was made in what is now Sherman district until 1830, when
John Haverty and John B. Gorf located on the Little
Kanawha.
The County
Seat.—In no other
county in the State has there been so much difficulty regarding the
permanent location of the seat of justice as in this. The act
creating the county provided for its location either at Pine Bottom
at the mouth of Yellow creek, or at Big Bend on the Little Kanawha, a vote of the people to
decide between the two places. Further, it required the first court
to be held at the house of Joseph W. Burson. This last requirement
appears to have been about the only one which was regarded, for when
the first court adjourned; it was to meet—not at Pine Bottom or
Big
Bend, but at the residence of
Peregriene Hays, on the West fork.
Accordingly the second
court convened at that place, September 9, 1856, and here it was
held until 1857. But in August of that year two courts were in
session at the same lime, one at Arnoldsburg and another at the
house of Collins Betz, on the Little Kanawha. For the purpose of
effecting a reconciliation between the opposing factions, it was
decided that the courts should be held at the mouth of Yellow
creek—now Brookville. A contract for the erection of a court house
at that place was let to E. McClosky, who for the sum of $675
erected a neat frame structure. But legal proceedings were now
instituted, and on the 15th of June, the court again convened at
Arnoldsburg, and here it continued to be held until 1869. It now
seemed that the matter was settled. The erection of a substantial
brick building was begun at Arnoldsburg. But after the basement
story had been completed—all of cut stone, at a cost of $1500 —the
question was once more agitated and another move made, this time to
Grantsville. Here a frame court house was erected, but burned to the
"round before it was occupied. Another arose upon its ruins and was
occupied until 1880, when a brick building was erected at a cost of
$8400. A lawyer who settled in the county at the time of its
formation, but later removed to an adjoining county, said that he
was compelled to do so for he "had been broken up trying to keep up
with the county seat."
Grantsville, the county
seat, is on the north bank of the Little Kanawha. The first
improvement on the site was made by Eli Riddle, more than half a
century since. The town was laid out by Simon P. Stump, and became
the county seat in 1869.
Arnoldsburg, on
the north side of Henry's fork, derives its name from Charles
Arnold, who patented the land on which it stands. A post-office was
established here in 1832, and the same year the first school was
taught by Charles Arnold. Peregriene Hays was the first merchant. He
began business in 1833.
[Source: History of
West Virginia; By Virgil Anson Lewis; publ.
1887; Pgs. 720-724;
Transcribed and submitted by Andrea Stawski
Pack]
Calhoun County
Calhoun County
adjoins Wirt and Roane on
the west and is bounded on the north by
Wirt and Ritchie; on the east by Gilmer and Braxton; and on the
south by Braxton and Clay counties.
Its area,
given by districts, as computed by the writer from the new
topographic maps of the U. S. Geol. Survey, is as
follows:
Districts.
Sq. Miles
Center
38.4
Sheridan 40.8
Lee
76.4
Sherman
51.4
Washington
73.2
Total 280.2
In 1900 Calhoun county had a population of 10,266 of
which 10,183 were white, 83 colored (negro) and 26 foreign born. The
census returns of 1910 give Calhoun County
a population of 11,258. The mean magnetic declination in 1900
was 1 degree and 10 minutes West. The
mean annual rainfall was 40 to 50 inches, and the mean annual
temperature is 50° to 55°
The county has a range in
elevation from 629.6’ above tide, low water level at the
intersection of the Little Kanawha river with the Calhoun-Wirt county line to near 1560 feet
above tide at the summit of Mule Knob, located 2 miles S. 700 E. from Minnora, or a total range in
elevation of 930 feet. Hon. V. A. Lewis gives the following
interesting narrative concerning the formation and early history of
this county:
"Calhoun county,
the area of which is 260
square miles, was created by Act of Assembly passed March 5, 1856.
It provided that so much of the lower part of Gilmer as lies within
the following boundaries: 'Beginning at the West fork of the Little Kanawha where the
Gilmer and Wirt county line crosses the
same; thence up the West fork to the
mouth of Henry's fork; thence up the said Henry's fork to the mouth
of Beech fork; thence with the dividing ridge between said Beech
fork and Henry's fork to the Gilmer county
line; thence to include all the waters of said West fork within the county of Gilmer to the Gilmer, Ripley and
Ohio turnpike to the head of Cromley's creek; thence with said
turnpike to the mouth of Bear fork of Steer creek; thence a straight
line to the head of Mussel Shoals of the Little Kanawha river;
thence by the shortest line to the top of the dividing ridge between
the waters of Tanners fork and Laurel creek to the Ritchie county line and the Wirt and Gilmer county line to the place of beginning, shall
be and the same is hereby established a new county, to be called Calhoun’. The county
was named in honor of John C. Calhoun, distinguished in American
politics.
The First
County Court convened at the house of
Joseph W. Burson, April 14, 1856. The following justices composed
it: Hiram Ferrell, Daniel Duskey, H. R. Ferrell, Joshua L. Knight,
Absalom Knotts, George Lynch and William A. Brannon. James N. Norman
qualified as first sheriff of the county.
He named Alpheus Norman and Philip Norman as his deputies,
which appointments the court approved. By a viva voce vote.
Geo. W. Silcott was elected to the office of clerk. After the
transaction of other miscellaneous business, the court adjourned to
meet in September next, at the house of Peregriene Hays, where
Arnoldsburg now stands.
"The First Circuit Court held for the county convened on the 6th day of October,
1856, Judge Matthew Edmlston presiding. At this court the first
grand jury was impaneled. * * * * *
"The jury retired to consider itts presentments, and
shorttly reported three true bills of indictment. Some other
unimportant business being transacted, the court adjourned. * * *
**
"The County Seat.—In no other county of the State has there been so much
difficulty regarding the permanent location of the seat of Justice
as in this. The Act creating the county
provided for its location either at Pine Bottom at the mouth
of Yellow creek, or at Big Bend on the Little Kanawha, a vote of the
people to decide between the two places. Further, it required the
first court to be held at the house of Joseph W. Burson. This last
requirement appears to have been about the only one which was
regarded, for when the first court adjourned, it was to meet—not at
Pine Bottom or Big Bend—but at the residence of, Peregriene Hays, on
the West fork. Accordingly, the second
court convened at that place September 9, 1856, and here it was held
until 1857. But in August of that year two courts were In session at
the same time, one at Arnoldsburg and another at the house of
Collins Betz, on the Little Kanawha. For the purpose of effecting a
reocnsiliation between the opposing factions, it was decided that
the courts should be held at the mouth of Yellow creek—now
Brookville." A contract for the erection of a court house at that
place was let to E. McCloskey, who for the sum of $675.00 erected a
neat frame structure. But legal proceedings were now instituted, and
on the 15th day of June, the court again convened at Arnoldsburg,
and here it continued to be held until 1869. It now seemed that the
matter was settled. The erection of a substantial brick building was
begun at Arnoldsburg, but after the basement story had been
completed—all of cut stone, at a cost of $1500.00—the question was
once more agitated and another move made, this time to Grantsville.
Here a frame court house was erected, but burned to the ground
before it was occupied. Another arose upon its ruins and was
occupied until 1880, when a brick building was erected at a cost of
$8400.00. A lawyer who settled in the county
at the time of its formation, but later removed to an
adjoining county, said that he had been
compelled to do so for he ‘had been broken up trying to keep up with
the county
seat.'”
The original settlers of Calhoun
were largely hunters and for that reason the practice of
scientific agriculture has not made much progress within its
borders. Its principal products are corn, wheat, oats, hay,
potatoes, garden vegetables, apples, dairy products, beef cattle,
poultry, lumber, petroleum, natural gas and carbon black
manufactured from natural gas.
The State
Auditor gives the following valuations for property in Calhoun County for the year
1909:
Assessed Valuation. State
Tax.
Real Estate $2,115,237.00 $1,275.91
Personal
Property 1,534.609.00
$926.26
Totals
$3,649,846.00 $2,202.17
No State tax is
assessed for school purposes. Each district makes its own assessment
for maintenance of schools.
Calhoun County
has about one dozen towns
scattered over its area, the most important of which are located
along the Little Kanawha and West Fork
rivers.
Grantsville.
Grantsville, the county seat and largest town in Calhoun, is located on the north bank of the
Little Kanawha River in the northern portion of the county. The first improvement on the site was
made by Eli Riddle. The town was laid out by Simon P. Stump and
became the county seat in 1869. It was
named in honor of General U. S. Grant of Civil War fame. In 1900 its
population was 225, and at the present time (Jan. 5, 1910) the local
postmaster, J. A. C. Smith, estimates it at 313-
"*
Carbon Black
Factories.— In this county Godfrey L.
Cabot of Boston, Mass., has the largest carbon factory in the world,
utilizing natural gas for the purpose. This factory is located on
the north bank of the Little Kanawha, 1 mile northwest from
Grantsville, and was begun in 1899 and finished in 1901. The product
is wagoned to Creston where it is loaded on boats and shipped down
the Little Kanawha river to railway connection at Owensport, the
southern terminus of the Little Kanawha R. R. Mr. Cabot has another
factory located at Creston in Wirt county.
Arnoldsburg.
Arnoldsburg, the second town
of importance in Calhoun County, is
located on the West Fork River, 9.3
miles south from Grantsville. It was named in honor of Chas. Arnold
who patented the land on which it stands. According to Lewis, a
post-office was established here in 1832, and the same year the
first school was taught by Chas. Arnold. Peregriene Hays was the
first merchant, beginning his business in 1833. In 1900 the town had
a population of 154, but the local postmaster, W. E. Powell,
estimated its population (Nov. 11, 1909) at
65
Minnora.
Minnora is located on the
West Fork river, 5 miles southeast from
Arnoldsburg. In 1900 it had a population of 190, but will hardly
reach that number at the present
time.
Brooksville (Big Bend P.
O.)
Brooksville is
located on the north bank of the Little Kanawha River at the mouth
of Yellow creek. The post-office name is Big Bend. During the
development of the Yellow creek oil field, it was the most populous
town in the county, but during the last
4 or 5 years it has dwindled rapidly from about 450 to 74, the last
figure being given by the local postmaster Jan. 5, 1910. In 1900 its
population was 146.
Other
Towns.—There are several other towns of less importance in Calhoun, among which are Big Springs, Ayers
and Rhoda on Yellow creek, the former having a population of 157 in
1900; Whitepine on Laurel creek, which had a population of 169 in
1900; and Stinson, Orma, Altizer and Richardson on the West Fork river, the latter having a
population of 68 in 1900, and at present the center of a large oil
field.
All other
towns are small cross-road villages, generally distributing points
for mail and supplies for the surrounding
farmers.
[Wirt, Roane and Calhoun Counties - West
Virginia Geological and Economic Survey By Ray Vernon Hennen, 1911 - Transcribed by AFOFG]
