[Source: History ofWest
Virginia; By Virgil Anson
Lewis; publ. 1887; Pgs. 664-673;
Transcribed and submitted by Andrea
Stawski Pack]
MARSHALL
COUNTY.
Marshall
County has an area
of 240 square miles. It began its existence March 12,
1835, when the General Assembly enacted "That all that
part of the county of Ohio, lying south of a line
beginning on the Ohio river at a stone to be fixed on
the bank of the said river one half mile above the mouth
of Bogg's run, thence a direct line to the northern
boundary of the town of West Union, and thence
continuing the same course to the Pennsylvania line,
shall form one distinct and new county, and be called
and known by the name of Marshall county." The county
was named in honor of John Marshall, Chief Justice of
the United
States.
Robert C. Woods, of Ohio county, and John W. McClean,
Sr., of Marshall, were
appointed commissioners to run and mark the lines of the
new county. The act made Elizabethtown the
county seat, and provided that the first court should
meet in a brick school house in said town on the first
Thursday after the third Monday of May,
1S35.
The First
Court for the
county of Marshall met at the time and place
for which the act creating the county provided.
The following justices were present:
Jacob Burley,
Benjamin McMechen,
Zadoc Masters,
Samuel
Howard,
Jacob Parrot.
Blair Morgan was the first
sheriff.
The court elected officers as
follows:
Commonwealth's Attorney, Elbert H.
Caldwell;
Clerk of Court, James D. Morris.
Moses C. Good, William McConnell,
Zachariah Jacob, John McFerren, Francis C. Campbell,
Lewis Steenrod, Morgan Nelson, Isaac Hoge, James A.
Clarke and J. Y. Armstrong were granted license to
practice law in the courts of this county.
Robert Shoemaker, Thomas Stewart, Jesse V.
Hughes, Samuel Gatts and Joshua Burley were appointed
constables.
Richard Morton and William Woodburn were
commissioned coroners.
The court appointed the following
supervisors:
Edward Gregg,
James Ramsey,
Bennett Logsden,
David Lutes,
R. B. Howard,
Thomas Howard,
John Ward,
William O. Rowell,
Samuel Venice,
Richard Ruling,
John Barts,
Joseph Mayers,
Joshua Garner,
Job Smith,
Andrew Jenny,
David Jenny,
David Wells,
Miner Burge,
James Standiford,
Jacob Reed,
James Chambers,
James Ewing,
Ebenezer Gordy,
David Rush,
Henry Ewing,
John Stricklin,
Edward Dowler,
John Gray,
Silas Price,
B. S. Gregg,
John Minson,
James Nixon,
Thomas Pollock,
William Vanscoyoe,
John Rine,
Michael Dowler,
Samuel Dowler,
Philip Jones.
Pioneers.—In 1769,
John Wetzel and family built a cabin on Big Wheeling
creek within the limits of what is now Sand Hill
district, Marshall county. The
Siverts and Earlywynes came about the same time,
settling on the ridge near them.
In the summer of 1770, Joseph Tomlinson
visited the flats of Grave creek. So enchanted was he
with the beauty of the surrounding country that he
determined to rear himself a home on the wide, fertile
bottom. Building a cabin, he spent the remaining summer
and succeeding autumn in his chosen abode. He returned
east of the mountains, intending to remove his family
when spring came. Indian hostilities increasing, he
delayed the removal for two years.
A man named O'Neil, in Tomlinson's employ,
came also in 1770.
In 1777, Nathan Master, James and Jonathan
Riggs found homes within the limits of Marshall county.
In 1785, a man named Cresap located land
on the Ohio in what is
now Franklin
district.
In 1790, John, James and David Bonar built
their cabin homes at a location afterward known as
Bonar's Ridge.
In 1792, Peter Yoho settled on Fish creek.
In 1793, Richard Campbell, a native of
Ireland, and
Thomas Buchanon settled within the limits of Sand Hill
district, and the following year Lazarus Rine settled
near them.
In 1795, Henry Conkle, from Pennsylvania, bought
land and became a settler in this neighborhood.
In 1 798, Jonathan Purdy, who built the
first distillery in the country, settled on Grave
creek.
Nathaniel
Parr’s Encounter with the Indians.— Nathaniel
Parr, with his father and brother, settled in 1770, at a
place which afterward took the name of Parr's Point.
While hunting, one day, Nathaniel killed a deer, and the
hour being late, hung it on a tree out of reach of the
wolves and went home. Early next morning he returned for
his venison. While in the act of taking it down he was
fired upon by the Indians, who, discovering the game,
had concealed themselves to watch for the hunter. The
firing suddenly ceased and five Indians made toward him.
He seized his rifle and fired twice, both shots taking
effect. The remaining three were young and cowardly and
unprepared for Parr's desperate defense. He was shot in
the right thigh, but standing on one foot, supported
himself by a tree and warded off his assailants. He fell
and found himself unable to rise. Seizing the stones
that were lying loose near him, he assailed the Indians
with such fury that they finally drew off, bearing the
bodies of their dead comrades with them. Mr. Parr,
alarmed at his son's continued absence, started in
pursuit, and after a diligent search found him, and
conducted him home. From the effects of wounds received
in this fight, Nathaniel Parr was a cripple to the end
of life.
Foreman s
Defeat.—About four
miles above Moundsville may be seen a monument bearing
this inscription: "This humble stone is erected to the
memory of Captain Foreman and twenty-one of his men who
were slain by a band of ruthless savages—the allies of a
civilized nation of Europe—on the 25th of September,
1777
"So sleep the brave who sink to rest
By all their country's wishes
blessed."
On the 25th of September, 1777, a column
of smoke in the direction of Grave creek led the
garrison at Fort Henry to believe
that Indians were in that vicinity and had fired the
stockade.
Captain Foreman—a gallant soldier, but
unacquainted with the wiles of Indian warfare—with
forty-five men was dispatched to render assistance,
should any be needed.
Finding all safe at Grave creek, early
next morning they began the return march. Captain
Foreman was advised by one Lynn, an experienced Indian
spy, to avoid the narrows, but apprehending no danger,
the commander, with those of his own company, retraced
the road by which they had come. Lynn, with seven or
eight frontiersmen, took to the hills. At the upper end
of the narrows Captain Foreman's party stopped to
examine some Indian trophies picked up by several of the
party, when they suddenly found themselves assailed by
savages.
With the foe on three sides, but one way of
escape was left them. Those who were uninjured by the
first fire fled up the hill, but so difficult of ascent
was it that the Indians killed several before they could
reach a place of shelter. Lynn and his companions heard
the firing and were not slow to guess the source.
Hastening to the brink of the hill, they arrived in time
to assist one wounded man to a place of safety. They
concealed him in a cliff of rocks. and leaving him their
provisions, promised to send relief the next day.
Colonel Zane, the following day, came to the scene of
conflict, buried the dead and carried away the wounded
man. Neither the number of savages engaged nor the loss
of Captain Foreman's party can be ascertained with
certainty. The latter was probably twenty-one killed,
including the Captain.
Captain John Baker, an early settler in
the country, who commanded a party for defense against
the Indians, was killed in 1778. He in company with
three men named Wetzel, from a block house at the head
of Cresap's bottom, were watching a party of Indians who
were reconnoitering on the opposite side of the river.
waiting, as was supposed, an opportunity to kill some of
those who had sought refuge in the fort. Baker fired and
killed an Indian. The others, as though in great fright,
fled. The four men at once crossed the river to examine
the dead foe. No sooner had they stepped on the
Ohio shore than they
were fired upon by the concealed savages, who had been
using the body of their dead comrade as a decoy. Baker
fell severely wounded. The others escaped to the canoe
unharmed. Returning shortly afterward, they carried
Baker to the block house, where he died in a few
hours.
Murder of
the Misses Crow.—The
following account of this sad event, which occurred in
1785, is given by Dr. De Hass: "The parents of these
girls lived about one mile above the mouth of Dunkard,
or lower fork of the creek (Wheeling). According to the
statement of a third sister, who was an eye witness of
the horrid deed and herself almost a victim, the three
left their home for an evening walk along the
deeply-shaded banks of that beautiful stream. Their walk
extended over a mile, and they were just returning, when
suddenly several Indians sprang from behind a ledge of
rocks and seized all three of the sisters. With scarcely
a moment's interruption the savages led the captives a
short distance up a small bank, where a halt was called
and a parley took place. Some of the Indians were in
favor of immediate slaughter, while others were disposed
to carry them into captivity. Unfortunately, the arm of
mercy was powerless. Without a moment's warning a
fierce-looking savage stepped from the group with
elevated tomahawk and commenced the work of death. This
Indian, in the language of the surviving sister, 'Began
to tomahawk one of my sisters, Susan by name. Another
Indian began the work of death on my sister Mary. I gave
a sudden jerk and got loose from the one that seized me,
ran with all speed and took up a steep bank and gained
the top safe, but just as I caught hold of a bush to
help myself up, the Indian fired and the ball passed
through the clump of hair on my head, slightly breaking
the skin. The Indian went around in order to meet me as
I would strike the homeward path. But I ran right from
home and hid myself in the bushes, near the top of the
hill. Presently I saw an Indian pass along the hill
below me. I lay still until he was out of sight; then I
made for home.'"
The Tush
Family.—George Tush,
one of the earliest settlers in Marshall county, lived
on Bruce's run. September 6, 1794, when Indian
depredations were beginning to be considered a thing of
the past. Mr. Tush left his cabin for the purpose of
feeding his hoys. Three savages, who were lying in wait,
fired upon him. A ball took effect in his breast,
inflicting a serious and painful wound. Frantic with
pain, he rushed past his cabin, leaving his wife and
children to the mercy of the foe. The Indians entered
the house, and the mother was compelled to witness their
horrid work. The four elder children were tomahawked and
scalped; the infant, according to Indian custom, was
caught by the heels and dashed against the side of the
house. Taking such articles as they could carry, they
retreated with the captive mother, whom they cruelly
murdered about eight miles from her home. Tush, in his
flight, jumped from a ledge of rocks, which so injured
him that when he reached the house of his neighbor,
Jacob Wetzel, it was late in the night. The infant was
found alive the next day, and one of the children
scalped by the Indians
recovered.
Colonel Beeler, some time previous to the
year 1780, attempted to form a settlement along the
ridge that separates the waters of Big and Middle Grave
creeks. Indian depredations became so frequent and so
terrible that Colonel Beeler, in company with Joseph
Tomlinson, of the fort at Grave creek, and Ryerson, of
Ryerson's Station, Pennsylvania, walked through the
snows of winter to Philadelphia to ask
aid. The following spring, in answer to their
entreaties, Captain Jeremiah Long, with fifty-three men,
was sent to Beeler's
Station.
Moundsville.—January 13,
1798, a ferry was established from lands of Joseph
Tomlinson, at the mouth of Little Grave creek, across
the Ohio. The same year a
town was laid out by the owner of these lands, and named
Elizabethtown, in honor
of his wife. The same was established by legislative
enactment, January 18, 1803, with Joseph Biggs, Lazarus
Harris, Jonathan Purdy, Jeremiah Woods and Jacob Wetzel,
trustees. Elizabethtown was
incorporated February 17, 1830. In 1831, the town of
Moundsville was laid
out by Simeon Purdy. The same was established by
legislative enactment, January 28, 1832, with John
Riggs, Lewis D. Purdy, John B. Roberts, Blair Morgan,
Samuel Dorsey, Samuel Tomlinson, David Lockwood,
Christopher Parrott and James Ramsey, trustees.
By act of the Legislature, passed February
23, 1866, the towns of Moundsville and Elizabethtown were consolidated
into one corporation under the name of the Town of
Moundsville.
The first officers were as follows:
Mayor, Robert McConnell;
Clerk, H. W. Hunter;
Sergeant, David Branter;
Councilmen, William L. Roberts, William
Allum, W. K. Wade, Morris Rulong, Richard Shadduck and
J. B. Shimp.
The Mammoth
Mound, from which
Moundsville receives its name, is the largest of a
number of mounds in this vicinity, and stands near the
centre of the town. It is 69 feet in height and the base
900 feet in circumference. On cutting transversely the
trunk of an oak that once crowned the summit, the
concentric circles showed an age of 500 years. This
mound was discovered by Joseph Tomlinson a short time
after his location at the place. Yielding to the
importunities of his friends, Tomlinson opened the mound
in 1838. The work was begun from the northern side at
the level of the surrounding ground. At a distance of
111 feet from the circumference a vault was reached
which had been excavated before the building of the
mound. This vault was seven feet in depth, eight feet
wide and twelve feet long. Upright timbers stood at the
side and ends, which had once supported transverse beams
closing the top of the vault. Over these had been placed
unhewn stones, which by the timbers giving way had
fallen into the vault. Particles of charcoal where the
timbers were first placed, led to the belief that fire
had been used in severing them, instead of edged tools.
Within the vault were two skeletons. One was surrounded
with ivory beads and wore an ivory ornament six inches
long, nearly two inches wide at the centre and tapering
to half an inch at each end. The other skeleton was
without ornament The excavation revealed blue spots in
the earth composing the mound, which upon examination
were found to contain ashes and bits of bones, and are
believed to be the remains of bodies burned before they
were interred. An excavation from the top of the mound
disclosed a vault similar in construction to the one
beneath. This one contained a skeleton ornamented with
beads, seashells and copper bracelets. Pieces of mica
were strewn over the skeleton and near it was found a
small flat stone inscribed in antique characters, which
thus far have baffled all attempts at deciphering. The
stone may now be seen at the Smithsonian Institute. The
Mammoth mound is one of a series of mounds and other
evidences that at some ancient time the place was
occupied by a race superior to the savage tribes, which
the whites found in possession of
it.
The State
Penitentiary is located
at Moundsville. After the organization of the new
Commonwealth, the State convicts were confined in the
county jail at Wheeling,
appropriations being made from time to time to provide
for them. January 30, 1866, a bill to provide a
penitentiary for the State was reported to the House of
Delegates by R. P. Camden, a member of the committee on
Humane and Criminal Institutions. February 7 the bill
came to its second reading, at which time the location
was fixed at Moundsville. The House passed the bill
February 8, and the Senate gave its concurrence on the
16th ensuing. The erection of the building was begun in
July following. The institution cost the State
$363,061.15.
The farm once owned by James McMechen in
the lower end of the county,—twenty eight miles below
Wheeling, is a spot of historic interest for the reason
that it was here that the Virginia Regiment, commanded
by General William Darke, spent the winter of 1790-1
when on its way to Fort Washington to join the ill-fated
expedition of General St.
Clair.
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