Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-12-11

and security against the attacks OF
the Indians.
The subject of the early settle
ment of the Valley will be resumed
in my next chapter.
CHAPTER ".
FIRST SETTLEMENT or THE VALLEY
CONTINUED.
Tradition relates that man by
the name of John Vanmeter, from
New York, some years previous to
the Grst settlement OF the valley,
discovered the fine country on the
Wappatomaka. This man was a
kind of wandering Indian trader,
became we'll acquainted with the
Delawares, and once accompanied
a war party who marched to the
south for the purpose Of invading
the Catawbas. The Catawbas, how.
ever, anticipated them, met them
very near the spot where Pendleton
courthouse now stands, and en-
countered and defeated them with
immense slaughter. Vanmeter was
engaged on the side of the Dele
wares in this battle. When Van
meter returned to New York, he
advised his sons, that If they ever
migrated to Virginia, by all means
to secure apart Of the South Branch
bottom, and described the lands
Immediately above what is called
"The Trough" as the finest body
of land which he had ever discover
ed in all his travels. One of his
sons, Isaac Vanmeter, in conformi'
ty with his fathers advice came to
Virginia about the year 1875 or
1887, and made what was called
a tomahawk improvement on the
lands now owned by Isaac Vanme'
ter, Esq, Immediately above the
trough, where Fort Pleasant was
afterwards erected. After this i'm.
provement, Mr.. Vanmeter returned
to New Jersey, came out again In
174O, and found man by the name
of Coburn settled on his land. Mr..
Vanmeter bought out COburn, and
again returned to New Jersey and
in the year l744 removed with his
family and settled on the land.(c
Previous to Vanmeter's final re-
moval to Virginia, several imml'
grants from Pennsylvania, chiefly
Irish, had settled on the South
Branch. Howard, Coburn, Walk
er and Rutledge, were the first set
tiers on the Wappatomaka.(d)
William Miller and Abraham
IIite we're also among the early
settlers. When the Indian wars
broke out, Miller sold out his right
to 800 acres of land, and all his
stock of horses and cattle in the
woods, for twenty-five pounds, (e)
and removed to the South fork OF
the Shenandoah, few miles above
Front Royal. The 500 acres of
land sold by Miller lie within
about two miles of Mooreheld, and
one acre of it would now command
more money than the whole tract,
including his stock, was sold for
Casey, Pancake, Forman, and
number of others, had settled on
the Wappatomaka previous to
Vanmeters final removal.
In the year 1740, the late Isaac
Hite, Esq, one Of the sons of Joist
Hite, settled on the North Branch
of the Shenandoah, in the county
of Frederick, on the beautiful farm
called "Long meadows" This fine
estate is now owned by Maj. Isaac
Hte, the only son of Isaac Hite de
ceased. ID
About the same year, ,Jno. Lindsey
and JAS. Lindsey, brother s, remov.
ed and settled on the Long marsh,
between Bullskin and lSerryvlller
in the county of Frederi ok; Isaac
Larue removed from New Jersey
IN 1743, and settled on the SANE
marsh. About the san ae period
! Christopher Beeler remov ed and SET
tied within two or three miles from
Larue; and about the year 1744
JOS. Hampton and two sons came
from the eastern shore o ( Maryland
(s) On the wall plats Of framed BAR
built by IIite, the figures Il ~ arc plsinl'
marked. and now to be seen
(b) There is q tradition II this neighbor
hood that Col. Hite quarri' sd every ston
in this building With bis o' Sn hands.
(c) Isaac yanmeter, y 80, Of Hardy
detailed this tradition to Il 10 author.
(d) Communicated by William Heath
Esq.
(s) Isaac vsnmetsr. Is g., stated thl
fact 80 the suthor.
90 Maj. Isaac Hite, Of Ii ederigk county
communicated this infor nation 20 n
author.