Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-03-12

form the northern boundary of Nor
gan, berkeley and Jefferson, as well
as the dividing line between the
Little Mountain State" and the
Land of the Baltimores." Here is
the Eastern Pan Handle. 1t is the
old part of West Virginia, and, il
written, its history would fill vol
umns.
1t, together with all the country
eastward between the Potomac and
Rappahannock rivers, and in colonial
Z times, known as the Northern
Neck" was granted by Charles H.,
! King of England, to Lord Fairfax,
who then becaine the first land pro-
prietor on the Continent West of the
| Blue Ridge. From him it descended
to the second, and then to the sixth
Lord Fairfax, who came to Virginia
aud lived IN princely style upon the
1 proceeds OF the sales of these lands,
much of which he disposed Of in
quantities to suit purchasers. In
| 1854, he dnnated a lot in Winchester
upon which was erected the first
! Episcopal church ever reared West Of
I the Blue Ridge, and beneath its altar
! he was buried.
/ From 1920 10 1883, all this region
was embraced within the limits of
Sputtsylvania county. and from the
latter date to 1853, in tho,e of Fred
erick. The year 1871 passed away,
and the entire Shenandoah Valley
remained a bowling wilderness III
habited only by wild beasts and saw
age men. No civilized man had
dared Ia find IA home in all its wide
domain, but the time had now come
when the Saxon should occupy the
land.
In the year 1882, Joist Hite,
George Bowman, Jacob Christman,
Robert Mckay, Robert Green, VIM
Duff Petor Stephens aud others, in
all numbering sixteen families, lrfI
| York, Pennsylvania, AMI cutting
their way through the Wilderness,
crossed the Potomac about two mile
above the present site of Harper
Ferry, and soon after hailed AID
built their cabius. In 1881, they
were Joined by Richard Morgan.
Beujafnine Allen, Riley Moore. inaule
preserved of that OF M0urelield, the
county seat of Hardy county, VII
liam White, Robert Harper, (nane
preserved in that of Harper'S Ferry }
William Stroop, Israel Friend, Tho +.
shepherd, (name preserved in thai of
cpherdstoWn, where he settled. J
John Former, Jacob Vammtter and
several others. These were the men
who first planted the standard Of civ
IlizaiiOn West of the Blue Ridge,
ind erected the first cabin hnrne-
within the present limits of West
Virginia.
That was century and half ago
not long tlme-yet when they CAME
Washington was an infant in hi
uother's arms; no Engliohran had
be9n on the banks of the Ohio; M
white man had then found a hour
within the present confines of the
State Of Georgia New Hampshire
was part of Ma>-achuSeit-; tn"
French had Gordon of forts extend.
Jag from the ST. Lawrence to The Mi
1isSippi, aud powerful savage trinr-
| rOamed over the country from tn,
Blue Ridge to California. 1t wa.
| five years before the founding of
| NLSilIohu, tNeilly-thFee years Del' g.
Tue french AMI Indian war, IA Il
tnrty'ihree Years before the begin
ninS OF the Revolution. Truly thi-
is the old part of West Virginia.
The sons of these pioneers and OF
/ Others by whom they were ,nu
| joined, formed a large part of Wash
/ ington's Regiment of Valley me,
which reared the walls of Old For
! Loudnn (wherp Wine !. ser, Virginia
now stand-.) and Of l|-rt lumber
land NOW Cumberland CITY, MarN
! land, and covered The retreat Of tn.
remnant Of 3raddnrk'- army from
the disastrous field of Munongpla
| Hundreds Of them were with Wash
ingtOn in all his Northern campaign.
and it Is recorded of him that Whpi
on his retreat through the .Irr-evs h,.
declared that if forced to pass the Pc.
tomac. he would cnutinun his march t,
this section and max ga final stand ~ :,
strong natural position. now aud eyer
since the settlement of this country.
round about, known as Powell
Fort.
Herp was established tho Gr., R,,
fist Chnrrh wn.t of ,Ia Dira p,d,,,,'
several families n,pmhars If hi Il.
nonination came From, Naw Jar1o,.
in I742 and hailed in The v;.initv -,
Gerar,I.tnwn' in VIVA, j. pow Bsrl,a
lev comfy Their first rnin,stnr u,,.
thn Rev Inhn G.rard
! uo,n,,sbir,, ,nn,,,,, ,,.,, c,r,,,,., :.
I75a and is nv tya';tv f, co. we vesrs s ,,,n
Oldest countv in Wc.t V,ryi"i, I,
was so named frnc, . ren,sriI mad,
nv Lord Fairfav Stapd,ny na,r ''' ,t,,
walls of Fort T.oudnnn ha sa,r
/ drove IF largo fat hnrs haimt. Az,
IN frnn thn ,nnun,,ins tn 10 ,,,.Y,
and manfred ybanrnthay nat,,o r.,
mo t,1d ha ra,,sri,,.d ,h.,t {, ,h.,,
rnnutrv shuuId no r,,.'aI tI,,,i,,
/ hire > from The county "fthat ,ani.
m Enol9nI which had hes,, f.,r oor',,
rip, tanl0u. nera,,sa ofits fnn hoo.
/ Within mi. rnojnn-ihn IH,,'tnr,
Pan.IIandlp-ara many intar.,tin',
loralItips. REINFORCED st he,.s,.o ''' -,
their historical assnci,tionS .Tnor,.
j. EalIirg Wia,ars ,,.h,,rr C.,,,,a'''.'t,