Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-11-22
LOOKING BACKWARD.
The Home of One OF the Pioneers OF This
County.

County.
7oths Editor of tie Sunday Register:
Sometime ago the REGISTER con-
tanned short history of the life, and a
description of the home Of one Of the
pioneers of this county, namely, Mrs.
Col. Shepherd, or later Mrs. Cruger,
written by Mrs. Jno. c. Fremont.
Other interesting items have been gath
cred recently with regard to the eraly
settlers OF Marshall county.
Many of your readers have been at
tracted lately by the great change of
things about Benwood Junction, where
the large yards and necessary buildings
are being located by the B. & o. Co.
for the better handling Of their bust
ness.
This land is a part of tract OF 1,s00
or 1000 acres, formerly owned by Mr..
Benz. McMechen, gentleman OF the
old style, brother-in-law OF Mrs. Lydia
Boggs Cruger. and father OF the late
Shepherd McMechen. He was the
founder OF Ben1ood, hence the name,
q man of strict integrity, and one whose
Judgment was sought by his neighbors.
On the east side of the main line OF
the B. & O., short distance below the
Junction, stands marble monument, In
closed by railing, and under the
shade OF group OF sassafras trees OF
unusual size and beauty. This marks
the burial place of the parents OF Mr..
Benz. McMechen, who were the former
owners of the above tract OF land, hav-
ing obtained it by patent issued by Pat
rick Henry, while Governor OF Virginia.
The monument contains the following
inscriptions:
Husband and Wife.
William died Nov. 21th, 1797-Age, 10 yrs.
Nancy died Nov. oath, lSl0-Age, 90 yrs.
Below on the same stone is the follow
ing:
Col. Geo. Stricken, married
Sidney McMeehen in 1903
Died Nov. 18th, lSl0-Age. 20 yrs.
These early settlers built log cabin
near where they were buried, and where
the company is about to erect their ma
chine shops, and lived there, excepting
at times when they were compelled to
leave aud 90 to some fort for protection
from the savage Indians, VINO sought
the scalp of the white man whenever
an opportunity offered. Upon one occa-
sion they stole the horses
of Mr.. William McMechen. He
started on foot in pursuit, but after fol-
lowing them to the great lakes and fall
ing to rescue them, ne returned to hnd
that his family, together with the col
ored servants, had been obliged to make
their escape to Redstone Fort, at
Brownsville, Pa, where he soon joined
them, and they all remained for several
wears, as the Indians were so frequent
in their attacks upon the whites that 1t
was unsafe to return to the Ohio river.
1t was at this time and place that Mr..
BENJAMIN McMechen was born, and
later they all came back to the farm,
where in years after he married Miss
Nancy Boggs and built himself a house
near the log cabin Of his father, where
he raised large family. This house is
now the only remaining evidence OF the
old home, all other buildings such as
necessary to accommodate the owners
in the cultivation OF the land, and the
housing of the products, together with
large apple orchard, having all disap-
neared by being taken down by the
company preparatory to grading and
making such other changes as have
been made within the past sixteen
months, and doubtless it, too, will soon
give way to steaming engines and other
inventions of the present day.
LOOKING BACKWARD.