The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-05-04

teclOrs OF these infant settlements, by
carrying prompt information OF coming
Indian raids. and by the aid or their
never failing weapons.
Fiat settlers In West NirginIH,
In the summer OF 1883 David Tygurt
and Robert Files. with their families
left the beautiful south branch OF the
Potomac to seek homes bey9Gd the Allie
gheuy range that had beet taclng their
little huts for years, II was an udven-
turc recurring tho strongest OF spirits.
bravery and bodies. After weeks OF
struggle they reached the crest OF the
Alleghenies In Randolph county.thevery
heart Of tho western ridge OF the great
Appalachian range, where the noun
tnins rise ridge upon ridge, peak sur
passing peak, into the very clouds,
where, rs they looked. the great noun
tAlns rolled TO the north, east. south
and west In gigantic pillows. Ra some
one has said, like the crested waves
OF some feartully disturbed ocean, ar
rested and petrlfed In us onward sweep,
ages before man was created A scene
desolate In winter, because OF lts man
lie OF snow and ice, but wonderful In Its
beauty under the Intense rays OF SUM
mer's sun,
circuit OF nfty miles around where they
stood was the birth place OF nearly all
the great rivers OF Virginia and West
Virginia over the crest TO the east
started the streams that made the south
branch Of the Potomac, which. after
flowing by famous cities. fell Into the
headwaters OF the Chesapeake bay. a
little farther southeast start the head
waters o. Jackson river, flowing into the
James. and then into the fOot Of Chesa-
peake bay. while to the southeast start
tiny streams that form the Greenbrier,
Gauley and Elk rivers, which in turn
make the Big Kanawhn. and thence into
the Ohio river. Al their feet ran n
trickling stream that soon made the
famous Cheat. running into the Monon
Eahela. They continued their adventure
but a short distance until they came 10
a stream. that ran parallel with the
Cheat down which they turned, at
tracied by It's picturesque and romantic
gorges, passing through magnificent
forests until they reached the blue grass
regions below. so pleased were they
tina; they built their huts there. and
named the river Tygart's Valley river,
aud the creek Files creek. which names
they retain to-day. but the Indians soon
drove them out, leaving Files behind 4
victim TO Indian hatred.
But the rivers continued on 20 form
the historic MononGahcla, into the Ohio,
and thence 10 the Gulf OF Mexico. The
banks OF these rivers soon were filled
by the steady stream OF settlers, The
Greenbrier. Gauley, Elk, kanawha,
Cheat. TyEarts. YoughlOEheny. MOnon-
Eaheia and Ohio were each famous for
their hunting grounds. for their fertility
and cheapness. but all had 10 be fought
for: By the Indian with his toma-
hawk and scalplng knife, his wonderful
cunning and deep hatred OF his white
nelghbor. against the pioneers flint
lock and superior energy. sagacity. fear
lesSneses, and his determination 10 hold
and possess this land OF Canaan.
Those who settled on the Ohio river
were Weather and o! Il more enterpr!s-
ing and ambitious spirit and looked
more TO the advancement OF their con-
ditlon from pecunlary point Of view.
The fertile Ohio bottoms. and the faCll-
ity OF reaching a market for their sur
plus products were considerations that
Influenced many. II was also thought
20 be good point from which they
could easily reach. examine. locate and
choose from the splendid lands across
the Ohio river. which they hoped would
soon be thrown upon the market,
In the summer OF 1863 Col Ebenezer
Zane and hls brothers. Sll1s and iona
than descendants OF Mr.. Zane who
came over with William Penn. but be-
came obnoxious to the Quakers because
he married outside OF their sect. he be-
ing OF n bold and determined spirit To-
moved to the south branch OF the Po-
tamGc. where his children were BORN.
with some others visited the lands
where Wheeling now stands, They
were much pleased and selected lands,
and then returned home for their
families
FIrSt Settlement Of Ohio Comfy.
Within a year or so they returned
0eavlng their families at Old Redstore
Fort for safety, accompanied By Col,
David Shepard father of Col. Moses
shcpardl. John wetzel father OF the
famous Lewis WeizcD. and the famous
brothers. Abraham. samuel and John
Mccullough. men whose names are
Identified with the early history OF Ohio
county.
The great object Of oil who emIErated
hIther was land. II could be obtained
for the taking up" Erecting a cabin
and raising q crop entitled any one TO
a settlers right" OF four hundred acres,
with presumption claim to one thou
sand aCrea more 10 be secured by an
order from the commissioners OF Nir-
Einia.
Col. Ebcnezer Zane. according 70 the
records, settled IN I've on four hundred
acres on the hills Of Glenn's run. but
finally chose for his home and lands
from Tenth street TO Wheeling creek,
where Wheeling now stands, and the
Nw1n
came n famous Indian scout. and lived
with his brother Ebcnczcr Zane. Sllas
Zane first located on the "WaddlngtOn
farm" and then commenced improve
ments on Wheeling creek. which he
afterwards sold Ia Col David Shepard,
whose son. Col Moses Shepard, mar
rled Lydia BoEgs who. NJ the death OF
her first husband. married Col, Cruger
and built the famous "CruEer mansion"
now owned by Major Alon2o L0rlnG,
John Wetzei built his cabin in the
Sand Hi district In Marshall county.
Abraham, Samuel and John McCul-
Tough settled on Short creek. Among
those who shortly afterwards settled
north or Wheeling were George LeHcr,
John Doddridgo. Benjamin BiEgs,
Daniel Greathousc, Joshua Baker Col.
David and Andrew Shepard. the Mitch
ellis. Van Metres. Milers, Keller, Col
Andrew Swearlngcn and others
on tho south side Of Wheeling came
many settlers. Among tn" FIRST was
Charles Swan. who, In 1863, settled on
400 acres on Fish creek
In i77i William MCMeChen settled on
his 400 cRrcF lying between BoEgs' run
and the SnrrOws. In lT72 James Cald-
wen Ecttled bgtween Wheeling ereek and