Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-05-14
MY BOYHOOD's HOME


Sometime since Of the writers OF the
Home Circle made mention OF West Lib
ertv, my old home, formerly Virginia,
now West Virginia; and thinking that
some OF your many readers may be In
terested In the old town, have under
taken the task OF recalling some OF the
events connected with its early history.
The exact year OF the settlement at
West Liberty is not known at this time,
but was made at an early date, perhaps
before COL Zane made his settlement at
Wheeling. West Liberty enjoyed the
distinction OF being the meeting place
Of the first civil court ever convened
west OF the Allegheny Mountains.
Doddridge gives Van Metres Fort as
the place where the court was held.
Van Metres Fort was located four
miles west OF West Liberty. on the
south branch OF Short Creek, near the
site OF the village Of Clinton. IL took
the name from Joseph Van Metre, an
early settler. This same Joseph Van
Metre also lived in West Liberty, either
keeping a tavern or a block house, and
il was in this house that the first court
met on January 16, 1916.
Were I lawyer OF this great west
country" / would never rest until suit
able monument was placed over the sa-
cred Spot-monument never secured
fner location than the location pro-
posed would be.
In the neglected little churchyard
lies the remains OF as brave and heroic
man as this or any other country ever
produced, yet be lies there all unhonor-
Cd al no n
devotion 10 duty and country. refer
10 Capt. Samuel Brady, the captain OF
the Spies. A complete record OF his ad-
ventures would prove more romantic
than the imaginary ones OF any border
romance ever written, and until his
grave is suitably marked, I'll never be-
lieve In American patriotism. he who
al alone trailed the Indian TO his lair
and watched over the infant settlements
and thus saved them from utter eXter-
mination is greater hero than the
commander in a hundred battles. Such
Aman.was Capt. Sam Br ady.
We ca2 hear OF no attack upon West
Liberty by the Indians, and il is the
superstition that the citizens sought
shelter in either Van Metres or Rice's
forts, probably the former. Rice'S Fort
was located on Buffalo Greek, four miles
northeast of West Liberty, and with
stood one Indian siege In the fall OF 11S2.
West Liberty is a moss grown village
Of 800 inhabitants, and having never yet
been pierced by an artery OF nineteenth
century progress, a railroad, il is simply
quiet, conservative village. In all
these wears the biisSful quiet OF the place
has been rudelY disturbed but once. IL
was during the war, Morgan was raiding
through Ohio and was hourly expected
TO descend upon Wheeling; the Home
Guards had been ordered out; one, a
minister, had failed 20 respond, so a de-
taehment was sent after him. Ii was
night, they surrounded bis house; az this
moment Mr.. Hedges, who was exempt
from military duty and had gone 10
West Liberty for news from the front,
came down the road mounted upon his
black charger, doubtless with thoughts
of the bold raider "Haltw rang out
on the clear night air, the whip de-
scended upon Dams (ths horSe) flank
and be was of at a bound. Several
shots were fred, but even lead could
not cover space faster than the fright
ened hOrse-depOneth saYeth naught
about the rider Having reached the
forks where he should turn of for
home, he became fearful that they.
Morgan, would follow him and Kill his
family. Down the road flew Dan, Cas-
tleman's run Is Teached-dOwn this,
away then, the noble Dan climbs the
hall until the bridge leading TO West
Liberty is reached-the whip still
seeks the smoking sides Of Dan
and be carries his unconcerned
master toward saiety-West Liber-
". One mile out OF the town is
another fork" aud just as this is
reached some boys out coon hunting ap-
pear-and, msrciful heavens, they are
armed. "Haltw Dan pays no atten-
tion TO the command aud they fire a VOL
ley In the air. Dan flew. Morgan was
advancing upon two sides and West Lib
erty must be saved. A few more leaps
ard horse and rider are laundering
through the streets OF the sleeping
town. Oh, horror, what is that sound
that breaks upon the air? Is il an In
dian yell, earthquake? Morgan. Nor
GAM | shall not attempt TO depict the
scene that followed, nor describe the
picturesque costumes that were speed
lily seen upon the street. That was
West Liberty's last excitement Dan is
dead but his rider still lives hale and
hearty, able 20 take the ride again.
Some OF my 5oyhood friends among
your readers will, believe. read this
with pleasure, even il they do not
recognize me.-St. Louis Rural WOrid.