The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-08-19

WHERE THE NAME CAME FROM
Since the publication of the query III
the columns last Tuesday, as to no"
Wheeling came by its name, we nave
heard many suggestions and traditions
in regard to the matter, but no one
seems to know. A friend, whose note
we publish below, and who has our
thanks for his attention, has put these
traditions into shape for publication
| 1t will be seen that there is nothing GER
tain about the origin Of the name oil
this city, though most old settlers agree
that the last statement-that about the
"headn-is what they have always un'
derstood to be the origin of the name:
WEILsBUaG, August II, 1869.
Editors of the Register:
Having noticed in this days issue OF
YOUR excellent journal an inquiry as 10
the origin of the name of your city,
"Wheeiing," permit me to give this
brief answer, more particularly for the
benefit of the young:
"In 1869 Isays Withers) Colonel
Ebenezer Zane, his brothers Silas ana
Jonathan, with some others from the
South Branch of the Potomac, visited
the Ohio for the purpose of making
improvements, and severally proceeded
to select positions for their future resi-
dence. They chose for their residence
the site now occupied by the city OF
wheeling" A very intelligent writer
of early date, much anterior to that
mentioned above, relates circumstance
which presents the strongest probable
ity and the best data from which the
name wheeling" was conferred upon
your city. 1t is said by him that "a
European gentleman in the capacity of
a Catholic Priest, direct from Europe,
of the name of Wheelan, (which was the
photography of the name, who, on mis-
sionary tour through the United States,
among the aboriginees of this country,
on descending. the Ohio river pitched
his encampment at the mouth OF what
is now we'll known as Wheeling creek,
in order to the discharge of his mission.
airy duties there among the red men OF
the forest. After few months stay he
proceeded down the river, and left a
name behind him, which will distin-
guish this celebrated spot till the end
of time. The founders of this city
changed its photography, since which
it is written Wheeling" (See Bowens
Directory of Wheeling for 1882 1t is
stated in a communication to the Amer-
lean Pioneer, by Mr.. John White, that
wheeling was originally called Feeling,
which signifies the place Of a head" The
following tradition explanatory OF this
was obtained from Mr.. John Brittle,
who was taken prisoner by the Della
wares, lived with them five years and
acquired their language: 'In the earli-
est period of the settlement of Pennsyl-
vania some white settlers descended the
Ohio river in boat, aud, stopping at
ths mouth of Wheeling creek, were
killed by the Delawares. The savages
cut off the head of one of their victims
and placed it on pole with the face
towards the river and called the spot
feeling" The Indians informed Mr..
Brittle that the head was placed there
to guard the river, and their camp from
the approaches of the pale faces. Mr..
Brittle says that eff an Indian were
asked after shooting a deer or bear
where he had hit the animal his answer,
if in the head, would be yelling"
The foregoing definition and answer
to the inquiry made in yours of to-day
was obtained frem history of Virginia
now in my possession, which am sorry
to say is out of print.
Yours respectfully, j. d. n.