HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY - 175 raged majesty of the law, as they regarded it, and therefore, on the second day of its session, cited Col. Shephard, 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 established martial law in the county, without having first advised with the court as to the reasons and necessity for adopting such a measure. The colonel, in justification of his conduct, pleaded that exigencies had arisen which required promptness in meeting them, and that any delay would have proved disastrous to the county, that the dangers to the public safety were imminent and had to be met on the spur of the moment, and that no disrespect on his part was intended to the court, and that he humbly apologized if the court was of the opinion that 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 extenuation offered by Shepherd in his behalf, and the firm yet submissive bearing of the officer, disarmed their criticism of his conduct. After due deliberation among themselves, being satisfied of the justice of the plea offered, and feeling assured by his conduct and explanation, that he did not intend wantonly to encroach upon the prerogatives of the court, the charge against him was dismissed and he was permitted to depart without so much as a reprimand. The first attorneys admitted to practice in the county were Philip Pendleton and George Brent, who were admitted on the 2d day of November, 1778, and on the same day Mr. Pendleton was appointed commonwealth's attorney. At this court the number of tithables in the county was returned at 352. This was probably the entire number of persons in Ohio county, over sixteen years of age. 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 Early Records — First Purchase of Public Grounds—Court House at West Liberty.—" Know all men by these presents that I, Abraham Vanmeter, of Bartlay 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 on the Head of the Northerly Fork of short Creek Known by Block's Cabin Boun'd as follows, Beginning at a white oak standing near the head of a spring and Running thence N: 56 W: 20 pole to a stake thence south 34 W: 16 pole to a stake thence S: 56: E: 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 for ever 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. "Interlined Bebore sign'd "Abraham Vanmeter, [Seal]. 176 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. "Witness: 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 McCollock, Jr., two ceartain servays of land, lying and being on the waters of Bufillow 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 McCollock. I give and bequeath a certain Roan filly Colt unto Jane McCollock. I further give and bequeath a certain Bay horse Colt unto Silas McCollock, and my Cow and Calf with my hogs I do give to George McCollock, Sr., and desire the said McCollock may sell the aforementioned Cattle and hogs to pay all my just and Lawfull Debts, and I leave the said George McCollock, Sr., Executor, In Witness hereto I have set my hand the day and year above written. “N. B:— And I leave the said George McCollock, Executor these words is Interlined above. "Signed in presence of Charles Wells, Jos. Wells, Ed. Perine  his Thomas Y Newbury. [Seal.] mark. " 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 on Record.—" Know all men by these presents that I, William Hawkins, of the one part, and John Willson of the other part, witnesseth that the said Hawkins, for and in Consideration of one hundred pounds, currt. 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's 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 he held by him the said Wilson or his assigns in peacible 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. " Witness 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. OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 177 The above was acknowledged in open court and ordered to be put upon Record. " Test James McMechen, C. C." Refraction of Libel.—" This is to Certify that I the subscriber did sometime ago advertise John Hauly to have taken a black mare away 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 3d day of April, 1778. " JACOB GRO. " Witness present, Jno Williamson," James Clements, " William Carson, " John Boggs, " James Caldwell, 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 Coridders 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. Tests. " James Gillespie, " Thomas Clark,  " James Gillespey. Isaac Taylor, [Seal.] " The above was acknowledged in open Court and ordered to be recorded. Test." " Settlement of Boundry between Ohio and Youghiogheny Counties. " We the Commissioners of Yohogany and Ohio Counties Respectively appointed as pr order of the Respective Courts may most indisputably appear to ascertain the Boundry Line between the aforesaid Counties, agreeable 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 McGoogine Branches thence up the aforesaid McGoogine branch until the head thereof about half a mile South of Wm. Prices 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'd and Corner mark'd stake, in testimony of which we have hereunto affixed our hands this 22d day of August 1778. " Isaac Leet, Jr, " William Scott, " James McMechen, " Richard Yeates." 12-A. 178 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. Bill of Slaves.—" 1789, Ohio county, State of Virginia. James Wells bought of John Wells, October 20th: To 1 negro boy named Dick, £90; 1 negro girl named Poll, £60, 3 feather beds with their furniture, £10; 1 wagon and geere, £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 l0th 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 Oridginall. "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 and Miss Sarah Zane agreeable to an act of assembly in such case made and provided. " Witness my hand this 11th day of January, 1790. RICHARD YEATES. MOSES CHAPLINE Clk." "A Copy Test. At the succeeding court sixteen persons were fined for retailing liquors without license, and nine persons were fined for one oath or as common swearers. Another person was ordered to be imprisoned three months for speaking disrespectfully of the court and as being disaffected toward the commonwealth. The second levy was for £352, 10, 0. Four, hundred and seventy tithables were taxed 15 shillings each. In March, 1780, John Briggs was granted a license to keep an ordinary, he complying with the law and giving Charles Hedges as his surety. James Gillespy also obtained a license for the same purpose.. Several soldiers " proved their services in the wars in Virginia, in 1758, and prior to 1763." On Tuesday, 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, $60, 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 Tuesday, August 8, 1780, the ordinary keepers were ordered to sell at the following rates, viz.: For half pint whiskey, $6; for half pint whiskey with sugar, $8; for breakfast or supper, $6; for dinner, $10; for lodgings with clean sheets, $3; for one horse to hay OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 179 twenty-four hours, $6; for pasturage twenty-four hours, $3; for one 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 Tuesday, November 4, 1783, the rates as ordered by the court were as follows, viz.: For half pint of spirits or West India rum, 1s, 6d.; for half pint of common rum, 1s.; for half pint whiskey, 8d.; for one dinner, 1s. 3d; for one supper or breakfast, 1s.; for one bed, 4d.; for one horse to hay one night, 1s.; for one horse to pasture one night, 6d.; to one gallon of oats or corn, 1s. On May 3, 1784, the court ordered the following rates: For breakfast or supper, 1s. 3d.; dinner 1s 6d.; half pint whiskey, 9d. The third levy was for £74 8s., and the tithables were taxed 10 shillings each. The fourth levy was for £85 16s., and the tax upon each tithable was 6 shillings. The items of the levy were, viz.: The sheriff, for one year’s extra services, £7 13s. 9d.; the sheriff, for one year’s extra services £7 13s. 9d.; Peter Cox, for one wolf’s head 15s.; Samuel McColloch, one wolf’s head, 15s.; Jacob Fowler, one wolf’s head, 15s.; David Shepherd, Gent. four wolves, heads, £3; Peter Fleming, one wolf’s head, 15s.; John Whitsell, one wolf's head, 7s. 6d.; Andrew Zane, three wolves, heads, £2 5s.; David Bradford, Esq., Com,lth Atty., £30; Joseph Ogle, for making socks, £2; James McMechen, for his records, £8; James McMechen, for extra service, £5 12S. 6d.; to dobbing the court house, to be paid B. Davis, £2; sheriff, for ball'e of last year’s, amt., £10 8s.; Zacharia Sprigg, Gent, £2 5s. 6d. The succeeding levy was as follows, to wit: David McClure, for extra services as clerk, £17 13s. 9d.; Robert Carpenter, for one wolf’s scalp, for B. Davis, 15s.; Matthew Kin, for one wolf,s scalp, for B. Davis, 15s.; Jacob Sprigg, high sheriff, for F. James, £4 6s. 3d. David Bradford, Esq., £20; Lawrence Buskirk, one wolf’s head, 15s.; Thos. Orr, one wolf’s head, 15s.; William Boggs, one wolf’s head, 15s.; Jacob Whiehill, one wolf's head, 15s.; William Shepherd, two wolves, heads, £15 10s.; Moses Shepherd, one wolf,s head, 15s.; Samuel McClain, one wolf’s head, 15s.; Richard Markland, one wolf’s head, 7s. 6d.; Elizabeth Tomlinson, wolf’s head, 7s. 6d.; Nathan Masters, one old wolf's head, 15s.; Isaac Williams, one wolf's head, 15s.; Robert Carpenter, one wolf’s head, 7s. 6d.; Charles Hedge, £1 10s.; Silas Hedge, for extra services, £4 7s. 6d.; Zach Sprigg, for extra, £3 2s. 6d.; Robert Edgar, by am't, 10s.; total £55 1s. 6d.; David Stephens, 7s. 6d. On the 6th of February, 1786, the petition of Col. David Chambers was laid before the court, concerning a water grist-mill. It was ordered that the sheriff summon a jury to meet on the premises on the 15th instant, and make a report under their hand seal and under the hand and seal of the sheriff. On the 6th of March following, the records show: The jury appointed to lay off an acre of ground agreeable to the petition of Col. David Chambers, has returned their report to court. Judgment, and ordered that the verdict be recorded. We infer from an entry in the order book, made at the June term 180 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. of court in 1793, that the old court house had filled the original purpose of its erection and therefore 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 Pittsburgh Gazette, and at four of the most public places in the county immediately, that the buiding said house will be set up at public sale in the town of West Liberty, the 27th instant (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 £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 November term next except £100 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 sum is to be considered as part 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 £100, which sum, or so much as remains in the aforesaid Boggs' 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 public officials were not trustworthy, and sometimes forfeited the confidence reposed in them, for at the following term of court held in July of the same year, the following entry appears: " 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 that 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 the making of the last order in 1793 no active measures were taken for the erection of the court house, but at a term of court held on the 5th day of June, 1797, the following entry appears among the proceedings of that day: " Ordered, that the commissioners who were appointed on behalf of this county to erect public buildings at West Liberty be OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 181 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 and this may have been the reason the court was induced to order the cancellation of the agreement above referred to as it 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, 1797. In its day West Liberty was an important place, but on the removal of the court house it soon lost its prestige as well as prominence as a business point. CHAPTER X. BLACK'S CABIN - FIRST SETTLERS - BLACK AND HOOD VISIT REDSTONE TO OBTAIN PROVISIONS - ARE LOST ON THEIR RETURN - DISCOVERED BY CURTIS - CURTIS PROPOSES TO RETURN TO BERKELEY COUNTY, AND UNDERTAKES TO DO SO - IS MET BY VANMETRE AND TURNS BACK - SHORT CREEK COUNTY SETTLED BY MARYLANDERS, VIRGINIANS AND NORTH CAROLINIANS - PROMINENT EARLY SETTLERS - ABSALOM RIDGE-LEY - CONFUSION OF NAMES OF FORTS-THE BIGGS FAMILY- IMPROVEMENTS MADE BY SOME OF THE EARLY SETTLERS-THE LONGEVITY OF SOME OF THE EARLY SETTLERS-THE EARLY SETTLERS FOND OF FUN-AN INDIVIDUAL WHO LIVED AT BEECH BOTTOM -NO MURDERS BY INDIANS IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTY - SOME FRIGHTS, HOWEVER - INSTANCES. BLACK'S CABIN, which originally stood on the site on which was subsequently erected the court house in West Liberty, was so called from having been erected by an individual of that name who came to that section sometime between the years 1770 and 1772. He was from Berkeley county, Virginia, and was an apprentice to Abraham Vanmetre, of the same county and state, and was by him sent to the west to select and locate land, and to take the necessary measures for establishing a "claim." The superior character of the country around West Liberty attracted his attention, and he resolved to look no further. He at once proceeded to erect a cabin on the land he proposed to " take up." Notching the trees to indicate the boundaries of one's claim (such claims being limited to 400 acres) and cutting the initials of claimant's name in the bark of a tree, sometimes several trees, constituted what was called in early times " a toma- 182 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. hawk right." Such a claim among the pioneers was sacredly recognized and respected, and woe to him who dared to infringe upon these rights. In those early times custom established precedents which were clothed with all the sanctity of law. In a short time after the advent of Black, one Morgan, of-Berkeley county, sent out James Curtis for the same purpose for which Black had been sent out. The tract located by this last named person is still known as the Morgan farm and is the same on which his descendents have continued to reside ever since. Black and Curtis, together with one Hood, who had come out about the time that Curtis had, or immediately afterward, usually kept close company both for the sake of mutual protection and companionship, as neighbors were few and Indians many. On one occasion when provisions had grown scarce and it was necessary to obtain a fresh supply, it was arranged among the three that two of their number, Black and Hood, should go to Redstone for this purpose, while Curtis was to remain behind and exercise a general surveillance over the respective possessions of the parties. They made their necessary preparations for departure, and on leaving told Curtis that should they fail to return by a time named, he might conclude that they had been waylaid and had fallen victims to the fury of the savages, or carried away as captives by them, and for him to take such precautionary measures for his own safety as might be deemed by him to be proper. After the lapse of a long and weary period of waiting the time having elapsed which they had fixed for their return, Curtis becoming apprehensive for his own safety, decided to abandon his trust and go to Redstone and ascertain if possible the fate of his companions and friends. There, too, he would be more secure should Indians be roaming in the adjacent country. Carefully fastening the door and openings of his cabin, he wrote with a charred stick upon the face of his cabin door, the announcement that he had departed for Redstone, so that in event of the unexpected return of his friends they would be advised as to his whereabouts, and their alarm at his absence be explained. He therefore set out on his solitary tramp through the wilderness, and succeeded in nearly reaching the Monongahela river, when to his great surprise, he unexpectedly met the young men. The surprise was mutual, and was followed by an explanation of their long delay in returning to their cabins. It appears that having obtained the provisions they had gone in search of, on their return journey they indulged in the pursuit of game. In the eagerness and excitement of the chase they had lost the trail and had become involved in the inextricable mazes of the forest and had wandered about for several days unable to recover it, or to determine the course which they ought to take for that purpose. Curtis assured them that they were already in the right way, and with high spirits and joyful hearts they retraced their steps in company, glad at the prospect of once again reaching their cabins. Not long after this occurrence Curtis became dissatisfied and was anxious to return to Berkeley county. Having OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 183 made his decision to do so, he was not long engaged in making the necessary arrangements for his departure. Gathering together his few household articles and utensils, he strapped them upon the back of his cow, and commenced his slow, toilsome and lonely journey. After experiencing many trials and encountering a number of difficulties, he had almost succeeded in accomplishing half the distance in his journey when he met his master, Mr. Vanmetre, coming out with an abundant supply of provisions, ammunition and various useful commodities. He was compelled to face about, and in company they returned to the place he had deserted. That portion of the country known as the "Short Creek Country," attracted the early attention of those who were seeking locations in-the west, because of the fertility of its soil, the abundance and variety of its timber, and the quantity and quality of its game. It was principally settled by Virginians, Marylanders and North Carolinians who brought with them the manners and customs of the sections from whence they emigrated. During the period of the revolution the name of West Liberty was substituted for that of " Black's Cabin," and it was so called from its then extreme western location, and from that love of liberty which patriotism had implanted in the breasts of these hardy pioneers. The very name itself being music to their ears. Prominent among the early settlers of this region we find the names of Benjamin Biggs, George McColloch, James Caldwell, John Boggs, Joseph Tomlinson, Moses Chapline, John McColloch, John Wilson, Solomon Hedges, John Williamson, David Shepherd, Archibald Woods, Zachariah Sprigg, James McMechen, Alexander Mitchell, Absalom Ridgeley and Daniel Harris. When Absalom Ridgeley came from Baltimore to West Liberty, he brought with him a packhorse laden with a small stock of such goods as were adapted to the wants of the settlers. Upon his arrival he opened his package of merchandise and displayed it for sale on a stump near the court house which served him as a place of business. At that early day there were no stores of a public character in which trade was carried on as the wants of the people were few and simple, and almost everything they needed was the product of their own industry. The advent of Ridgeley with his stock of goods was a new experience to which the settlers, had theretofore been strangers, and in a short time he had disposed of all his available goods. The venture proved to be so successful that it was repeated by him again and again, until in the course of time it became an established and regular business with him. The fort stood upon an elevated site above Black's Cabin, and was erected as nearly as can be ascertained about the year 1777, and was called indifferently the " Court House Fort " and " Vanmetre's Fort." In later times this gave rise to some confusion; as many located the last named fort at West Liberty, whereas Fort Vanmetre was located about four miles below West Liberty, on the waters of Short creek, on what has since and is now known as the Ridgeley farm. This last named fort was erected on land originally owned by a son of Abraham Vanmetre. In illustration of the uncertainty with which one 184 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. has to contend, when in search of authentic information, we may here state that it was only after several months of diligent investigation that we were able correctly to locate Fort Vanmetre and to account for the similarity of names by which the two forts were designated —so soon are the important points and places of local history forgotten by those who ought to be familiar with them. But it is a fact that the descendants of those men who made the early history of this section, know less concerning it than those who are strangers to it, but who have interested themselves in efforts to preserve it. One would suppose that personal interests in their ancestors, combined with local pride, would have prompted them to have made themselves acquainted with the history of the past and the lives 'and deeds of their forefathers. But this is not the case. One of the most notable and efficient families living at West Liberty, in these early times was the Biggs family, in which were six sons, all of whom were distinguished for their brave and adventurous spirit and daring. They were named respectively, William Biggs, Benjamin Biggs, Joseph Biggs, John Biggs, Thomas Biggs and Zaccheus. All of them were more or less known as Indian fighters, and bold and successful scouts. Benjamin, commonly went by the designation of Gen. 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 was promoted at the age of twenty-three to the command of a company. After the close of the revolution he became 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, and was buried in the old cemetery in that village. 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 Capt. Biggs was in command of Kirkwood's cabin, situated on the Ohio side of the river, opposite to Wheeling, and held it successfully at the time the Indians made their attack upon it. William Biggs had settled in Illinois about the year 1787 or 1788, and one day was taken prisoner by a party of Kickapoo Indians. He never wore a military title. After his capture he was adopted into the tribe, and was treated with great kindness and consideration, and remained with them for the period of 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 confidently pursuing his way the silence was suddenly broken by the sound of a rifle shot which was sped by the rifle of a concealed foe, which struck his horse. Three other shots followed in quick succession, all of which took effect on his horse, which resulted in its death. At the moment of the attack OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 185 upon him he was leaning forward, and as his horse fell he was thrown with great force over his head, and for a moment was dazed by his contact with the ground, but only for a moment. On arising he lifted his overcoat which he had slung across his saddle, and putting it on, and over this hastily placed his powder horn.. Starting to run and finding his progress greatly impeded by the weight of his great coat, and made futile and unsuccessful attempts to remove it, which he was prevented from accomplishing by the belt of his powder horn. Seeing that the Indians, who were in pursuit, were rapidly gaining upon him and that all hopes of escape were hopeless, he determined not to be killed while running, and at once and suddenly stopped, prepared to meet the worst. His life was spared, and he was carried away a prisoner. After his return from captivity he wrote an interesting pamphlet in which he gave an. account of his experiences, but we think there is no copy of it now extant. One of these experiences has been related to us by an individual who at one time had a copy of the pamphlet in which it was recorded. A young squaw became smitten with him and paid him marked attentions, so much so as to attract the notice of the Indians. His captors proposed to him to take her to wife, but having one already, he declined the proffer. When he was about to be removed from one village to another, the dusky maiden put in her appearance and did not want him to be removed. His captors started with him at a rapid lope, followed by the squaw, who was provoked by the laughing and whooping of the Indians at her as she followed, which she continued to do until they had reached their destination. That evening he found her at the door of his cabin and the Indians around making fun of her and taunting her with her want of success. Although the Indians urged him to take her as his wife, he persistently refused. She .remained for several days and nights in the hope of overcoming his scruples and obtaining his consent to the marriage. It is said that he described her as a beautiful girl about eighteen years of age, with finely chiselled features, a full and rotund figure and almost white. John Biggs was one of the scouts and guides which accompanied Crawford in his unfortunate campaign against the Indians and fell a victim to savage fury at the time of that defeat. About the year 1832 is the last knowledge we have of any of the Biggs visiting Ohio county. Captain Joe Biggs, at the time a resident of Monroe county, in the state of Ohio, during the last named year returned to West Liberty temporarily 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. He had left in charge of his business during his absence a young man whom Mrs. Biggs took aside and instructed to give to the visitant the best liquor there was in. the bar, and whenever he called for it, which instructions the young man faithfully followed. After indulging in two or three drinks the captain walked on to the porch in front of the house, and shrugging his shoulders (a habit common to him and in which he unconsciously in- 186 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. dulged on all occasions), turning to the young man who had accompanied him to the porch, he pointed in the direction of Wheeling and remarked: " I have been in seventeen. fights and engagements with Indians at different times between here, and Wheeling." He gave no description of their character nor entered into any details concerning them. He then inquired whether an old friend of his was still living and the directions to his house, he set off to find him. With him he spent several hours in recalling past events and talking over former incidents and reviving old memories. This was his last visit to Ohio county. He died in the year 1833 or 1834. Thomas Biggs, another brother, was killed on the Tuscarawas by the Indians while engaged on a scout. Zaccheus Biggs was a surveyor in the employment of the government, and lived and died in Steubenville, Ohio. He surveyed the first quarter section of land surveyed in the .state of Ohio. This survey was made near Steubenville, in Jefferson county. Before leaving Ohio county he entered one of the finest pieces of land in the county, which had hitherto escaped the keen search of his neighbors, and which in the end proved to be quite a valuable " find." He was the brother-in-law of Rev. Obadiah Jennings, a distinguished Presbyterian minister of his day. It may be a matter of interest to many to recall the names of a few of those who at an early day made improvements and opened farms in the vicinity of West Liberty. The names of Curtis, Morgan, John Wilson, the McCollochs, Harris, Vanmetre and Hearst are a few, prominent among those who first settled in the country adjacent to West Liberty, and made improvements. These persons settled here in point of time nearly or about the same period. James Curtis improved the farm known as the Hugh Mitchell farm subsequently, and which is now owned by William North, as well as the farm about two miles and a half east of West Liberty, on which last he lived for a number of years, and on which he died. He raised a family of ten children, namely: Salathiel, Susan, Fannie, Nancy, Rachel, Sally, Elizabeth, Alice, James and John. The first named, Salathiel, was one among the early lawyers who practiced in the courts of western Virginia, and was a man of fine intellect and ranked high in his profession. He died at the age of eighty-six, honored- and respected by all who knew him. Abraham Vanmetre was the first person to improve the present site on which West Liberty stands; Ruth, one of his daughters, married Reuben Foreman, and Hannah, another, married Providence Mounts. The town of West Liberty was laid out by these last two named persons, Reuben Foreman and Providence Mounts, and this was the first town organized in the Ohio valley. It was organized November 29, 1787. About the year 1772, Samuel McColloch, who was killed in the summer of 1782, while on a scout, by the Indians, and John Wilson, each took up a tract of land lying on Short creek. Mr. Wilson emigrated to this section from the state of New Jersey; his first visit being made OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 187 about the year 1771, after which he returned to his home east of the mountains and brought with him on his return his bride — Rebecca. Before returning east he had erected a cabin home for the reception of his companion, a refined and gentle woman unused to the rough life of the backwoods. On arriving in sight of it he pointed it out to her, at the same time remarking: "There Becky, is your future home." For a moment she felt a pang of keen disappointment as the memory of her home in the Jerseys was pictured upon her mind, but she made no reply, nor manifested any regret, but resignedly acquiesced in the lot which had been assigned her. Her wifely devotion and heroic fortitude in the hour of peril and danger has embalmed her memory and kept it fresh and green through all the generations of her offspring. About this time Mr. Wilson planted a pear tree on his farm which grew and flourished, and for more than a century has continued to bear fruit. It still stood some four or five years ago, and its lower branches were still thrifty and productive. The tracts of land located by Maj. Sam. McColloch and John Wilson as well as the tracts taken up by Abraham and John McColloch, are still owned and occupied by the descendants of these respective families, and they are among the finest, most fertile and productive farms in the county. James Baird improved where Bethany college now stands, and William Baird where Col. Alex Campbell now lives. Both of the Bairds subsequently removed to 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 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 possession of his brother Benjamin. Robert Curvy 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 now owned by Mrs. Howard in the year 1791. He is the last man who fell a victim to savage cruelty in Ohio county. The farm owned by the Yates' heirs was improved by Matthew Houston, who was also killed by the Indians. His brother, Robert Houston, improved the farm belonging to John Faris. It may not be uninteresting in passing to call attention to the longevity of some of those early settlers whose names and memories alone remain, and even these are fast being obliterated by the flight of time and the indifference of the generations which have followed them. R. Mazingo died at the age of ninety-nine years and six months, and his wife at the age of eighty-seven years. J. Atkinson died at the age of eighty-two years, Mrs. Wiedman at the -age of eighty-nine 188 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. years, Mrs. Lewis at the age of eighty-three, Mrs. Armstrong at the age of eighty-five years, Mrs. Taylor at the age of eighty two years, 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 eighty-three, Susan Beck at the age of eighty-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 healthfulness. In the old graveyard of this ancient town there are fifty-one graves chosen at random, the occupants of which each lived until over eighty years of age. Thirty-seven of these persons at the time of their death were between eighty and ninety years of age. Thirteen of them were between ninety and one hundred years of age, and one was one hundred years of age. Were Old Mortality to visit this old cemetery he would find here ample scope for the exercise of his peculiar talent. The early settlers were a fun-loving set of jolly fellows, fond of jokes, drinking bouts and horse racing. This latter was a mania. On court days it seemed that the whole county would gather at West Liberty and frequently the crowd would amount to 1,500 and even as many as 2,000 souls. Court day was looked upon by the large majority of the settlers as a gala day. Here trials of speed between fast horses would be had and bets of larger or smaller sums would be offered on favorite animals. So prevalent was the habit of betting on these occasions that men 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 we have heard of the prevalence of this vice could be true, but being so well vouched for we must accept them. But we have neither time nor space to enter into details now. In early days an individual had settled at " Beech Bottom," about twelve miles above Wheeling, on the river. As a proof that he must have settled there quite early, it is sufficient to -state that he had an orchard bearing fruit at the time of the organization of Ohio county. It is said that when he came out from the east he brought with him a quantity of apple seeds which he planted and from which he raised a nursery. When large enough he transplanted them, and in a few years he had a large and flourishing orchard from which he obtained a sufficient quantity of apples for all ordinary use, the making of cider included. He had no wagon to transport them into market, and consequently had to use the mode of conveyance then in vogue in the country— a sled. In those days, and for many subsequent years, even as late as 1820, people made use of sleds with but few exceptions as wagons were a novelty not then much in use in the western section of the country. After 1820, or about that period, prosperity began gradually to increase, until at length he was looked upon as a poor farmer who owned no wagon. OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 189 This individual to whom we refer was in the habit of taking his apples to West Liberty at the meeting of the court, on a sled upo n which was set a body or box to receive the apples. Upon arriving at the county seat he would select a prominent position and display his fruit in the most tempting manner upon a board laid across the top of the box, which he sold for a penny an apple or a shilling a dozen. If a purchaser paid him with a twelve and a half cent piece, or what was in later days called a "bit," an old denomination which many years since has passed into disuse, and has now quite disappeared, to make even change he would cut an apple in halves giving one half to the purchaser and retaining the other half for a similar emergency. From his nursery of fruit trees thousands were taken, to Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, and from this source sprung many of the orchards which were planted in those states. He was quite a venerable person in appearance, was soft of speech, very shrewd and withal quite covetous. In the days of which we write he was considered as being quite well off in this world's goods. He always kept on hand an ample supply of bacon and cured meat in his store-house. Hence when his neighbors ran short in this respect, which they often did, he did a very lucrative business in supplying their wants. It is related of him, that on one occasion when provisions, and especially bacon had grown scarce in his neighborhood, he he was called upon to supply the deficiency. At the time he was suffering from a lingering and severe attack of sickness from which it was doubtful whether he would recover. His shrewdness, however, did not desert him, but he was keenly alive to driving a good bargain with such as came to purchase from him. At times he would grow much better and then have a relapse into 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. One day during his sickness it is stated that his wife entered the room and inquired of him —" Pap, what is the price of bacon to day?" Hesitating a moment— he replied — "Fifteen cents a pound live or die." A remarkable fact in reference to the early settlement of the, eastern part of this county is, that no murder or depredation of any kind was ever committed there by the Indians. A man by the name of Hawthorn was shot from his horse where Triadelphia now stands, and one John Grist was taken prisoner by them at another time at no great distance from the same place. Then we hear of no more mischief done by them until we cross the Pennsylvania line, near West Alexander, where a Mrs. Ross was murdered by them. They never did any mischief south of these two points, nor north of them, although the Indians were known to pass often through these settlements. There is a reminiscence in the Hosack family that on one occasion when Mr. Hosack was absent from home over night, and his wife and children slept in their cabin unprotected save by a dog, and apprehensive of no danger, in the morning they found Indian tracks in the 190 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. snow around their cabin, but nothing was disturbed. These settlements were composed almost exclusively of Presbyterians of the Scotch-Irish stock, who came there to procure homes for themselves and their children, and the majority of the families still have representatives in the neighborhood. With a high sense of justice which has ever been a characteristic of their race, they refused to aid or countenance any aggressive acts against the Indians. There were no scouts or warriors among them, and none of the lawless class, but they acted strictly on the defensive. From the light which has since been thrown on the character of Simon Girty, it would appear highly probable that they were indebted to a considerable extent to this strange erratic character for their singularly good fortune, notwithstanding they always supposed him to be their worst enemy. Girty was well acquainted with the character of the settlements. If it was an accident, it was a very singular one, that hostile Indians continued to pass on their raids through a settlement for twenty years without ever striking it a single blow, whilst they committed murders all around it. It is a further confirmation of the theory, that if the Indian had been dealt with justly it would have saved the writing of many a bloody page of border-history. There was just one exception so far as known by the writer and that we have already adverted to, in the case of John Neiswanger, who was one of the earliest pioneers and a daring scout. He forted under a rock in a sort of a cave, one mile and a half above Triadelphia and a quarter of a mile north of the pike. He was killed by the Indians at the mouth of Little Grave creek, where he had put in with his canoe for the night when on a hunting expedition in the year 1783. Still there were some scares in the neighborhood occasioned by the presence of Indians. A Mrs. Lockwood, who at one time lived just above the " forks," formed by the junction of " Little Wheeling" and " Middle Wheeling," was startled one morning by the cry of " Indians! Indians!" by a fleeing neighbor as he passed by her cabin. All the men at the time were absent from home and the neighbors had all fled to Shepherd's fort. A few days before this 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 in front of the cabin and resolutely awaited the coming of the savages, determined to have the " first shot " should they appear. But after waiting patiently for a season and seeing nothing of the Indians she became so weak from her exertions she was unable longer to stand guard and with difficulty reached her bed again, where she remained undisturbed and suffered no serious effect from her fright. A young man about this same time who had been to mill some distance up "Middle Wheeling" was on his return shot at by some Indians on a hill just above him. Disengaging his burden from the horse he was riding, he put him to his mettle and at full speed made for Shepherd's fort, shouting as he rode, " Indians! Indians!" so as to give the alarm to the neighbor- OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 191 hood. Mrs. Lee, the mother of my informant, was preparing breakfast at the time for herself and little ones, and was engaged in baking flannel cakes. Upon hearing the alarm she- promptly discontinued her culinary operations and snatching up her two children, placing one under each arm, she ran with them to the fort, which she reached in safety. CHAPTER XI. THE NATIONAL ROAD - THE ROAD FROM CUMBERLAND TO . THE OHIO RIVER AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS IN 1806 - EFFORTS TO SECURE THE TERMINI OF THE ROAD AT DIFFERENT POINTS ON THE OHIO - THE COST OF THE ROAD UP TO 1817 — PRESIDENT MONROE'S INTERNAL. IMPROVEMENT MESSAGE - COL. MOSES SHEPHERD, JOHN MC LURE, DANIEL STEENROD AND OTHERS, CONTRACTORS - LITIGATION - TRAVEL AND TRADE ON THE ROAD - PROPOSED CHANGE OF LOCATION - HENRY CLAY THE FRIEND OF WHEELING-THE OLD ROAD FROM WHEELING TO WEST ALEXANDER - SIXTY ODD YEARS AGO - THE " LAND ADMIRAL" - COACHES RUN FIRST TIME DAY AND NIGHT ACROSS THE ALLEGHENIES, IN 1827 - ROBBERY OF THE MAIL - ARREST AND PUNISHMENT OF THE ROBBERS - IN 1835 TWO LINES OF STAGES BETWEEN WHEELING AND FREDERICK - OPPOSITION LINES - AN INCIDENT -TAVERNS OF THE OLD NATIONAL ROAD - THE WAGONERS - THE " REGULARS " AND THE " MILITIA," SO CALLED - PRICE OF MEALS -THE " CONTINENTAL " LINE-THE OLD STAGE COACH A MEMORY. THE bill authorizing the construction of the National road, or as it is sometimes called, the Cumberland road, passed congress in the year 1802, the same year in which Ohio was admitted as a state, but the construction of the road was not commenced until 1815. In 1812 there was a turnpike from Baltimore to Frederick and Hagerstown, and that portion of it between Boonsboro' and Hagerstown was the first piece of macadamized road in the United States. From Hagerstown west to Wheeling there were no turnpikes. On the 29th of March, 1806, congress passed a law providing for the construction of the road from Cumberland to the Ohio, and Thomas Moore of Maryland, Joseph Kerr and Eli Wilson, of Ohio, were appointed commissioners to decide upon a route. The route proposed by them with only one deviation at Uniontown, was approved by President Jefferson in 18̊8, as far as Brownsville— the route from that point to the Ohio being left undetermined. The point at which. 192 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. the road would strike the Ohio, was considered as of the utmost local importance, and every eligible point on the Ohio from Pittsburgh, to below Wheeling, was warmly engaged in urging its claims. It was anticipated that a city would at once spring up wherever the crossing was definitely fixed. At this period dates the jealousy that subsequently existed between Wheeling and Pittsburgh, and in a greater or less degree with all the other points on the eastern shore of the river. It became a delicate question for the commissioners to decide, and remarking that " in this was to be consulted the wishes of that populous section of Ohio, and the connections with roads leading to St. Louis, under the act of 1806," they left the question open. The route from Brownsville to Wheeling was afterward located by another commission, the engineer for which was a Mr. Weaver. Operations on the road were commenced forthwith, and up to 1817 it had cost $1,800,000, and had moreover in some portions become worn out so as to need extensive repairs. The question of abandonment came up. In 1822 President Monroe issued his celebrated internal improvement message, in which he argues with consummate ability the general improvement policy of the country, and enlarges upon the propriety of the government carrying out the original compact with the state of Ohio* by continuing the road west of the Ohio river. Three commissioners had been appointed in 1817 to locate the western division; and it is at this date that we first read of its Ohio terminus being definitely fixed at Wheeling. Col. Moses Shepherd was a principal contractor on the road between Wheeling and Cumberland. Messrs. John McLure, Daniel Steenrod and others, had contracts more contiguous to the former place. The work was executed promptly and with apparent faithfulness; but subsequently much litigation arose on account of alleged failure to comply with the terms of contracts in executing masonry, etc., which afterward found its way into congress in the shape of bills for the relief of different parties. † A large amount of money was expended by the government and large fortunes were made by some of the contractors out of the proceeds. The road gained great celebrity at the time from its magnificence of design, costly character, the ro- * When Ohio was admitted into the Union in 1802, there was a proviso that one-twentieth of the public lands within her boundaries should he set apart that the proceeds might be applied to the construction of such a road through that state, and ultimately to St. Louis. † Moses Shepherd, who, as above stated, was one of the contractors for building a portion of the road, had large landed possessions in its immediate vicinity. The original survey of the road was made on the north side of the creek which flowed in front of his residence and but a few rods distant. This original survey therefore located the road several hundred yards distant from his residence leaving the creek between it and the road as originally surveyed. But by means of influences brought ko bear by him, he had the road changed from its original location to the south side of the creek in front of his residence, believing that this would enhance the value of his property. But this change involved a heavy expense to the government in the construction of that portion of the road, inasmuch as it required the building of two additional stone bridges of considerable dimensions, to-wit: the one known as the " S " bridge opposite to the residence of Moses Flay, between six and seven miles east of the city of Wheeling, and the one near the Shepherd place at the " forks of Wheeling." Had the road been built in accordance with the original survey, not only would it have been unnecessary to have built these bridges, but also the additional length of road which necessarily was a consequence. This gave rise to a large claim against the government, which, though persistently prosecuted by Shepherd during his life, and by his widow after his death, was wholly ignored by the government, and we think justly so.—G. L. C. OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 193 mantic country traversed, and the immense trade and travel that passed constantly over it. It became the grand artery of emigration as well as of transportation between the east and the west. Forty wagons in a train all magnificently belled and otherwise equipped, might be seen at one time traversing this national highway, loaded with merchandise for the whole country, as far west as St. Louis. Notwithstanding, however, the immense travel and trade, the tolls were insufficient to keep it in proper repair, and bidding fair to become a burden on the federal treasury, a growing disposition was manifested to abandon, or rather to transfer it to the state it traversed. About the year 1825, it was terribly out of repair, especially that portion of it between Brownsville and Wheeling; and so desperate had become the condition of the western division that a change of location was seriously talked of from the Wheeling route to the route via Wellsburg. During the previous long and acrimonious contest for the crossing place, Wellsburg had been the equal and formidable rival of Wheeling, and now, when it was re-opened, she renewed her rivalry with a desperate zeal. Topographical advantages were confessedly in her favor, both as to distance and nature of the ground to be traversed in order to strike the Ohio, but even at that early day, and indeed a long time previously, the narrowness of the river had suggested the practicability of a bridge at Wheeling Island, and there were influences also on the Ohio side, that operated strongly in her favor. She was also fortunate in her advocates in congress. Henry Clay, the reputed father of the internal improvement policy of the government, "threw in her favor the weight of his influence; and contributed greatly to her success by his zeal, and his sarcastic allusions to a panther mountain," a high hill two miles to the east of Wellsburg which he came out of his way to explore on one of his journeys to Washington city, purposely to see for himself the comparative merits of the rival routes. He, perhaps, unwitingly misrepresented the character of the Wellsburg route; the entire twenty-three miles of which, it has been estimated since, would have cost less than the two miles nearest Wheeling, of the route as adopted. But superior management triumphed and the original location to Wheeling was confirmed. When, afterwards, Henry Clay, became a candidate for the presidency in opposition to Gen. Jackson, in 1832, he was remembered by the adherents of the respective routes. Ohio county went for him with the greatest unanimity, while in Brooke, he only received one vote, that of Prov. Mounts, an eccentric, hair-brained individual, whose solitary vote was for a long time a subject of amusement among his neighbors and acquaintances. The fact coming to the ears of Mr. Clay, elicited from him a humorous and good-natured remark. “Harry of the West " was defeated; but the impress of this local controversy remained not only upon the neighborly relations of the parties, but upon their political complexion. Wheeling became thoroughly and persistently whig; and together with the county of Ohio, firmly -devoted to the interests of Mr. Clay; while Wellsburg and all the vi- 13 — A. 194 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. cinity sympathizing with her, became uncompromisingly anti-Clay and democratic. Subsequent events and the obliterating effects of time, have softened and modified this local antipathy in some degree; but to this day, the effects may still be distinctly seen, both in local jealousy and national politics. At the time of this last desperate effort to wrest from Wheeling, the possession of the terminus of the national road, Philip Doddridge represented this district in congress. This was in 1829-32."* An old resident states, that before the National pike was constructed, the road to West Alexander followed the side of the hill parallel to the present route of the National road to a point a short distance beyond the Steenrod house, when it descended to the bank of the creek, and binding thereon, continued its course to Roney's point, where it took up the hill at the Sisson place and followed a. country road to West Alexander. When the National road was first constructed, it was laid with corded stone, that is to say, the stones were placed on edge, but in 1827 it was repaired and in places these corded stones were removed, but in the sunken places they were permitted to remain and the whole road was leveled up macadamizing the same. Sixty odd years ago, mails and travelers from New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and the Ohio river, at Pittsburgh and Wheeling, were carried by stage lines largely owned and managed by James Reeside, popularly known and designated as the " Land Admiral." The first line of stages run by him was from Hagerstown, Md., to McConnellstown, Penn., in 1814, and in a few years afterward be became one of the largest mail contractors in the United States. He possessed a. grand physique, being six feet four and a half inches high, without any surplus flesh, measuring fifty-three inches about the chest, and kicked the beam at two hundred and twenty pounds. He was a person of great enterprise, remarkable executive ability, strict integrity, frank in speech and open-handed in his generosity. He was an intimate friend of Gen. Jackson, and the associate of Clay, Crittenden, Benton, McLean, and other distinguished men of that period.. Shortly after the war of 1812, Mr. Reeside was concerned in establishing a daily line of stages across the Allegheny mountains. At this period there were no turnpikes from Hagerstown west to Wheeling. The first through stage line between Baltimore and the Ohio river was organized in relays. These relays lodged the first night at Hagerstown, the second at Cumberland, the third at Uniontown, and the fourth at Wheeling. The stages were of the old fashioned kind, somewhat similar to the modern ambulance, open in front and having a rack behind to hold one or two trunks. Persons rarely traveled in those days with a trunk. The passengers all faced the team on a. level with the driver. Saddle-bags, then the usual baggage of travelers, were slung around the standards which supported the roof. It was the custom at night when they reached the lodging place, to give * From the Life and Times of Patrick Gass, by J. G. Jacob, Esq. OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 195 their saddle-bags into the custody of the landlord, whose wife put them under her bed, and delivered them to the travelers in the morning. Travelers often carried large sums in this way. It was not until the year 1827 that any coaches running day and night crossed the Allegheny mountains. At about this time Mr. Reeside became the contractor for carrying the mails between Baltimore and Wheeling, via Hagerstown and the National road, and from Philadelphia via Harrisburg, Chambersburg and Bedford to Pittsburgh, upon which routes previous to this, no mails had been carried at night. The system of running day and night was introduced by him between Philadelphia and Baltimore and the west, reducing the time from four days to fifty-two hours, and thereby earned the sobriquet of " Land Admiral," bestowed upon him by a Philadelphia editor, who, in giving him that title said " that he could leave Philadelphia with a hot johnnie cake in his pocket, and reach Pittsburgh before it would grow cold." When Reeside was contractor for the mails going out of Philadelphia to Baltimore, Wheeling, Pittsburgh, etc., a robbery of the mails was committed which was the sensation of the time. The mail for Kimberton, a short line running out of Philadelphia, was robbed. A few days subsequent the important mail for Reading and Pottsville was robbed near the point where Girard college now stands. The driver of the coach was a man of the name of Charles Wilhower. There were nine passengers in the coach. It was stopped by three men, named respectively, Porter, Poteet and Wilson, at about 2 o'clock in the morning. They forced the passengers to get out and stood them in line. Wilson and Poteet watched the team and driver, while Porter robbed the passengers. After rifling the mail they allowed the coach to proceed. Porter and Wilson were arrested at Reeside; Poteet by a policeman in Philadelphia. Poteet was remanded to the Maryland penitentiary, from which he had escaped, to serve out the remainder of a sentence of eleven years; he died, however, before the expiration of his sentence. Wilson turned state's evidence and Porter was hanged. It is said that Gen. Jackson was influenced to commute the sentence of Wilson to a few years' imprisonment because of a service rendered to him many years previous on a race course in Tennessee. During the time of the excitement about nullification in South Carolina, Gen. Jackson's proclamation was expressed through to New York. The son of Mr. Reeside related the following incident concerning it: "On its arrival at Philadelphia, owing to the injuries sustained by the express rider regularly employed, I, on my way home from school, was substituted to carry it on to New York. I left Philadelphia at 5 o'clock in the evening and reached Jersey City at -9:26 P. M., four hours and twenty-six minutes. I was taken across the river in the yawl by Mr. Dodd, and delivered the proclamation to Mr. Gouverneur, at the postoffice. The relays of horses used by me in making the run were from three to five miles apart. It was a very dark night, several of the bridges over which I had to pass had draws. But there was no time to stop to think whether they were open or closed. I 196 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. had to take my chances of jumping them, if they happened to be open. Fortunately, however, they were all closed." In 1835 there were two competing lines between Frederick, Md., and Wheeling, viz.: the Good Intent Stage company and the Stoke & Stockton or. National road line. The coach' and stock of the former east of Cumberland were owned by Messrs. Alpheus Beall and Thomas Shriver, of Cumberland, John A. Wirt and J. A. Hutchinson, of New Jersey, and William H. Steele, formerly of New Jersey, and afterward a resident of Wheeling; James Reeside owned the stock between Cumberland and Wheeling. The ownership of the National Road Stage company was vested in L. W. Stockton, Moor N. Falls and Daniel Moore. While the two were running opposition, three daily lines were started from Wheeling, and frequently they were supplemented by a large number of chartered and extra coaches, as many as twenty being dispatched in one morning. During the California fever there was an unusually large number of passengers to be carried. When President Zachary Taylor and his party were on their way to Washington city, they were caught at Moundsville by the ice and their boat was frozen in. A driver of the Good Intent Stage company was called upon to help forward the presidential party, and drove for eighteen hours with only such delays as were necessary to change his teams. The stage companies being intent on making the best possible time bought up the best stock within their reach, the Consul and Mayduke horses having the preference. They were usually about sixteen hands high, rather leggy, but having good body and action. On one occasion two of the horses jumped over the wall, near to the spot known as McColloch's leap, just east of Wheeling, and being suspended by the wheelers and the coach until they were choked and had ceased to struggle, they were cut loose and allowed to fall a distance of nearly twelve feet, when they were again harnessed and completed their trip without experiencing any damage. After the lapse of some years, Reeside dissolved with his partners in the Good Intent line and started a line of his own from Wheeling to Frederick. At this time then there were three competing lines, and the result was that the competition cut down fares from $8 and $i0 to the nominal fare of 50 cents. This, however, could not long continue, and after losing a large amount of money the other two lines bought Reeside out, and thenceforward the two survivors, although continuing as separate organizations, divided way-bills and kept up rates. Two more attempts were made to start opposition lines over the same route, the Henderson company of Pittsburgh, which put on a daily line, and two sons of Reeside, who started a fancy line called the " Junebug." The Henderson line, however, was soon bought off and the " Junebug" line broke up. The two original companies held the field until the completion of the. Baltimore & Ohio railroad to Wheeling in 1852 deprived them of their occupation. The following interesting communication from A. Allen Howell, Esq., of Wheeling, was furnished to the, writer at his request, Mr. OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 197 Howell was connected with one of the companies just mentioned, and therefore speaks by the card. It is as follows: " In 1841, the year I became connected with the National Road Stage company, there were two separate lines running between Frederick City, Md., and Wheeling, Va.— the National Road Stage company and the Good Intent Stage company. The two lines were running the road in complete harmony— each line doing the same amount of work, and dividing gross receipts each quarter. The only rivalry was the laudable one of excelling in good coaches, teams and drivers, and in making the best time on the road. The office at this end of the line (Wheeling) was occupied jointly by the companies. In 1843 or '44, Mr. L. W. Stockton died, and the National Road Stage company became the property of Mr. Daniel Moore, Henry Moore, J. C. Acheson, M. W. Falls and Dr. Howard Kennedy. The National Road Stage company had the contract for carrying the United States mail, and it is within the knowledge of our older citizens how well and loyally the service was performed. An incident may not be out of place, showing the spirit governing the proprietors in regard to failures of the mail. In the year 1842 I was agent of the N. R. S. Co., at Uniontown, Penn. The mail was due at that place at 5:30 P. M., and at Wheeling at 8 A. M. Owing to a snow storm in the mountains east of Uniontown, the mail was behind time. Mr. Stockton remained at the office until near midnight, determined to save the mail if possible. Not having arrived at 12 o'clock, he left for bed, giving me orders to save the mail if it reached Uniontown by 2 o'clock A. M. The mail arrived twenty minutes before 2 o'clock, and I had it transferred to the inside of a small six-passenger coach, and at ten minutes to 2 o'clock I started it for Wheeling with no one on the coach but the driver and Mr. Buntering, the road agent. The mail reached the postoffice in Wheeling just as the clock struck 8 A. M., thus saving the mail and making the trip from Uniontown to Wheeling (sixty-eight miles) in six hours and ten minutes, including changes of horses on the route. Three horses were killed and at least a dozen more were placed " hors de combat " (no pun intended), and the expense of that fast trip could not have been less than $1,000 from injury to stock, etc. " The fine for failure of a mail was only $50 in case no good excuse could be offered. In this case the company had a valid and sufficient excuse for the delay and no fine would have been exacted by the de- partment, but Mr. Stockton had so high a sense of honor and pride as connected with his service that he did not regret the loss sustained. I may add that the team I started from Uniontown on this trip, had his private carriage horses in the lead, he having ordered me to place them there. When the nature of the road from Uniontown to Wheeling is considered, this was a remarkable trip. The message of the president of the United States was carried by relays of horses in very short time (under six hours I think), and so far as I remember, without compensation. " During the palmy days of staging it was a pleasant sight to view 198 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. the long string of coaches — of both lines — sometimes they would be in close order, and after the coaches starting from Brownsville joined the string, it resembled a caravan in its proportions. On one occasion I think there were twenty-four coaches from Wheeling and Brownsville at one time on the road going east, and as they were in close order the sight was interesting. The taverns on the road were generally good— notably the Frostburg House and Bass Rush's, National House and McClelland's (Uniontown), etc. The drivers on both lines were a class of men, suigeneris. They have nearly all passed away. As a rule they were first-class in everything pertaining to their occupation — honest, trustworthy, sober and polite. They took much pride in their teams, and it was a rare occurrence that an old *hand was discharged for misconduct. Mr. John Foster, better known as ' Pap Foster' was the office agent for the two companies in Wheeling. No more faithful man was ever employed by any company. He always slept at the office and was well-known to the traveling public. In 1852 the Baltimore & Ohio railroad was finished to Wheeling, and then the wheels of the coaches stopped. The horses were sold and the drivers scattered." The National road was indeed the Appian Way of the republic. It was in its palmy days more like the grand avenue of some proud city than a road through rural districts. A writer * in speaking of it says,— " It was the great route between the east and the west; many of the southern and all of the western statesmen of the olden times traveled upon it from their homes to Washington and back. As many as sixteen two-horse coaches have been counted in continuous procession at one time passing along the old pike, and large broad-wheeled wagons covered with white canvass, laden with merchandise and drawn by six Conestoga horses, have lined it from sunrise to sunset without intermissiom, besides innumerable caravans of horses, mules, cattle, hogs and sheep. The road was famous for the number and excellence of its inns or taverns. On the mountain division they averaged probably one for every mile of road. All were provided with commodious wagon yards. The sign boards with their golden letters winking in the sun ogled the passer-by from the hot road-bed, and gave promise of good cheer, while the big horse-trough full of clear fresh water, and the ground below it sprinkled with droppings of fragrant peppermint, lent a charm to the surroundings that was at once irresistible. Men who drove teams on the old pike were invariably called wagoners—not teamsters, as is the modern word. They carried their beds in the forepart of the wagon, rolled up, and spread them out before the big bar-room fire, when they retired for the night. Some of the barroom grates would hold as much as seven bushels of coal. Teams were rarely ever stabled, but almost invariably stood upon the wagon yard, no matter how inclement the weather might by. There were * Col. Searight. OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 199 two classes of wagoners, the " regular " and the " sharpshooter."* The former were engaged in the business from year's end to year's end, and did nothing else. The latter were composed for the most part of farmers, who put their teams on the road when freights were high, and took them off when they declined. The " regular," drove his team on an average about fifteen miles a day, while the " sharpshooters " would make twenty, or twenty-five miles. There was naturally much jealously between the classes. Twenty-five cents was the uniform price of warm meals at the old taverns, and a drink of whisky thrown in. A cold check was set out in the middle of the day for I 2% cents, a "levy," in the old phrase, and a drink thrown in. The " regulars " were very hostile to encroachments of railroads, and regarded them as the invention of the evil one. They had an old song among them that ran something after this fashion: Come all ye jolly wagoners, Turn out man for man, Who's opposed to the railroad Or any such a plan. When we go down to Baltimore, And ask for a load, They'll very soon tell you, It's gone by railroad. There was a line of these wagons belonging to a voluntary company, called the " Continental line," which had its headquarters at Wheeling, of which J. B. Ford was agent, as well as for the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, at Cumberland, Md., and J. A. Rowe was agent at the former place. Several of our old-time citizens were interested in this line. The late Joseph Caldwell, Esq., had three or four teams in this line, which were under the control of one Newlove, who kept a wagon yard where the freight depot of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad now stands. Abner Charnock also had one or two teams in the same line, and others whose names we cannot now recall. The line only went to Cumberland. A team carried from 7,500 to 10,000 pounds, and this was drawn by six horses. The length of time it took to make the trip from Wheeling to Cumberland was nine days and the same number of days returning. So far as we are aware there are now living in Ohio county but three of these knights of the whip. The rest have driven over the bridge which spans between time and eternity. Their names are Charles Prettyman, George Weddel and William Tracy. Alas, the old-fashioned stage-coach with its experience and associations as well as the -old Conestoga wagon, with its white cover and its belled horses and their driver have become relics of the past, pushed aside by the progressive spirit of the age. The toot of the horn is no longer heard in our midst, and the graceful flourish of the long whip is seen no longer as the lumbering coach rattles along at break-neck speed as it draws up at the place of its destination. But now instead *These latter were also called the " militia."— G. L. C.