The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-07-11
INTERVENING HISTORICAL REMI-
NISCENCEs OF PRESTON COUN.

INTEhESTIN3 IA Sn"
NIsCENCEs OF PRESTON COUN.
TY
Hon. VIM G. Brown in his Centennial
address, at Kingwood,:: on the 4th, gives us
good many interesting scraps OF history
from which we extract:
The first Legislature Of Virginia after
the Declaration of independence, met In
December. i1I6, and formed two, Ohio
aud Monongalia, counties west OF the
Allegheny, out of what WAS then called
West Augusta. Ohio embraced what
is called the "Panhsndle," or the present
counties of Ohio, Hancock, Brooke, Mar
shall, Wetzel and Tyler. Monongalia,
comprised the present counties OF
Monongalia, Marion, Taylor, Harrison,
Writ, Wood, Doddridge, Richie, Gill
more, Braxton, Upshur, Barbour, Kan
dolph, Tucker and Preston.
Prior to l776 the beautiful bottoms OF
the Ohio and the fertile valley of the
Monongalia had induced few bold ad.
yenturers to settle at the mouth OF
Wheeling, Greek on the Ohio, and at the
mouth of Decker's creek on the Monon-
gahela. But the territory composing the
present county of Preston, hundred
years ago, did not contain single resi-
dent white man.
SETTLEMENT OF PRESTON.
Just at the close of the war in 1871,
many of the discharged soldiers of the
Revolution had to ind new homes and
new employment. The hunting grounds
of the valley of Cheat River invited them
to settle IN the territory now forming the
county OF Preston.
The old Revolutionary rife, with its
hint-lock and muzzle that you could run
your thumb into, in the hands of sol
der, was q dangerous weapon not only
TO the wild game but also TO the Indian
that was then fighting for what he claim
cd as his own favorite hunting grounds.
To give you an idea of the game and
its abundance then found among our hills,
old Mr.-WIles. who settled in what is
now called Union District, told me more
than fifty years ago, that he, when he first
settled there, killed Ms high rs seven elks
in one day, the least Of which weighed
over three hundred pounds net.
The late Col. Ashby who resided on
Snowy Creek, near Portland, told me that
he, when young, killed in fall, rs high
~ thirty deers and his father about rs
many, and, by way of variety, they would
kill bear or buffalo. And
within my recollection, the late John
Conley, who resided within less than II
mile of Kingwood, went with his children
to gather chestnuts, and soon came to u
very inviting tree, the top of which WAS
dark with opening burs, and at once con-
Guided to fell it. But, before the tree
was half down, the children discovered n
fine bear il the top of it. AS matter Of
course the programme was changed; the
bear had to be killed and dressed.
GIRLS CARRIED INTO CAPTIVITY.
The last fight made in this county by
the Indians To drive back the invading
white man, was about the year 1888,
when they murdered John Greene and
part OF his family, and carried the rest
into captivity This took place on the
farm now owned by the heirs Of the late
Thos. Brown. The Indians fitted out
their expedition on the Ohio river nj or
near the mouth OF Fishing creek, now in
Wetzel county. From thence they fol-
lowed up Fishing creek 10 its head, cross
ed the dividing ridge to the head of In
dian creek, which they followed down To
ITS mouth, crossing the Mouongshela
river where Smlthtown now stands, kept
up the valley Of White Dog creek 10 its
source, thence IL AN easterly direction,
with view of falling on the head waters
of Morgsn's run, their object being To
murder William Morgan, who had set
tied on the Durksrd bottom At the mouth
Of Morgsn's .In, where Mr.. Morris now
lives, and to burn his cabin. But the
fates had ordered otherwise. They mis-
took the creek, and followed down
Greene's run, passing within short dis
lance from where kingwood now stands,
until they came in hearing Of one Lewis,
who WAS splitting rails for Greene. They
shot Lewis and captured Greenes rifle
which he had with him, and fastened 10
Greenes house ~ commence the murder
Gus light. A little g,rl running from the
house rs the Indians came up, was fired
upon and shot throught tn. hand; she
had presence of mind enough Ia TALL and
hold her bleeding hand on her face and
head and lay their quietly until the In
iiaIs left. Greene was soon dispatched
The mother and two half grown daugh
tiers were taken prisoners. The house
Was fired and just before taking up their
r, treat one OF the Indians stepped I" the
little girl. first shot, and seeing the con-
d,tion of her head, left her Tor dead. Al
ter toe Indians hsi lett, the little wound
ell girl made her WAY 10 Cheat river, OPP
posite 10 the mouth III Roaring creek,
where David Morgan now lives, hut then
the property of one Thos Battle. The
cries oi the child Were heard and she WAS
tsken across the r,,er and cared for uy
Butler. When she grew up she married
a man BY the name Of Friend, and her
live IN ar near the Sanglng
ground in the edge OF Maryland. The
Indians made good their retreat, and re-
crossed the Ohio river near where they
started. Mrs Greene wsseNchsnSed alter
a captivity of "A year ar more. and return
rd and married man by the name OF
Moore. Nv whom she Asd = son called Ed
nsns"n. and two dsug h.ers, Ha.ra" and
Gissia. Edmanson married, hrrd. and
lied IN this county. The sec"nd wife OF
our worthy neigheor, Samuel Sn'der, was
\ daughter, and Col. Moore, living near
. son, of Edmanson. Cissia
. Trowbridge and Hannah .
Bubble, their descendants are living In
Mrs. Greene after the
Heath Of Moore, married man by the
name Of Spurgen, by whom she had =
laughter named Lydia, who also married
, Rable and moved TO Monongslis. Mrs.
Greene and her three husbands now sleep