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

Burnley BENJAMIN McMechen. Lldot
Masters. Samuel Howard and Jacob
PARROT: sherin. Blair Morgan; com
monweaith'B attorney, Elbert II. CARD
well; clerk Of court, James y. Morrl5
Moses C.. Good. William Mcconnell
2acharlah Jacob, John McFarren, i,
q. Campbell. Lewis Stronrod. Morgan
Nelson, Isaac HORe james a. Clarke
and j. Y. Armstrong were licensed to
practice law
The McNIsGhsn Settlement.
In the most western county OF Mary
land, on the banks OF the south branch
on the Potomac, lived the family oil
William McMeChen. sr.: his son VIII,
lam NicMechen, jr., was born in 1874 anc
his next son. James. year or two IA
ter. When william McMechen, jr., was
about fOrty-fiVe years OF age he mar
ried Miss Sidney Johnson, born In lItA
on the south branch
The Indian Ynids being ended by the
treaty made by Colonel Bouquet In
1894, every EngllshmAn on the frontier
said 10 his neighbor. not as the French
man has II, Let us go and Kill some
thing" hut as the modern Englishman
has IL, Let US go and take any land We
can lay our hands on" Among then
was William McMechen, Jr,, who began
10 get the land fever, because OF his
desire TO advance the best interests OF
hIs young wife Ond children and TO take
advantage of the splendid offer OF the
colony OF Virginia, OF four hundred
acres OF land. together with mn option
on one thousand acres addition, 90 all
settlers IN Western Virginia.
William McMechen and his brother
James, with this determination. started
IN the spring OF III, over the Blue
Ridge To seek their fortunes. Thels
equipment was very modest one io'
such nm unknown and ventures0me
tourney. consisting OF a couple OF pack
horses carrying provisions for an moe
finite period, backed up by strong bod
les stout hearts, great energy and n
determination to win. With their trusty
flint locks over their shoulders, and
tosnahnwk In belt they wended their
WaV past Wits Creek, over little
known and almost trackless mountains
to Old Red Stone Fort Cnow Browns
VILE, Pal, from there they. started
through the unbr0ken forests OF OHIO
county, TO see the lands so highly spo-
ken Of by Christopher Gist they kept
on the ridges OF the hills. as they were
less freQuented by struggling bands OF
Indians, and from them they could get
better prospect and knowledge OF the
surrounding country
Imagine them TO have arrived on the
hill overlooking the beautiful valley
nbove the Narrows, now occupied BY
the flourishing towns OF McMechen and
Benwood. and seeing valley Hooded
with brilliant sunshine. the broad. deep
la Belle Riviere" flowing through II
with It's swift current. between banks
lined by beautiful groves OF royal
trees, with soil OF the richest ferul.
ity. and all this offered to them free, II
they would only come and live upon "
They descended the high hill and
among It's freshest, brightest spots they
came across the famous McMechen
spring. So pleased was William, that
he exclaimed to his brother: This IS
rich enough for my blood, and by the
Great Horned Spoon I'll settle down
right here, and make home for sidney
and the children"
James thought II was all very good.
but that there was not enough in sight
for two, so he kept on down the river
as far as Fish Creek and took up lands
there that afterwards became historic,
for the reason that II was on these
lands that the Virginia regiment. CONF
handed by General William Darke,
spent the winter OF lTS0-sl. when on
It's way 20 Join at Fort Washington. the
ill.fated expedition OF General ST. Clair.
That William McMechsn did locate
his four hundred acres In I'LL, on this
chosen spot will be seen by the follow
ing deed, recorded In Book No. !, page
lJ5. in the Ohio county office Of records.
Surveyed for William McMechen.
December 10. 1854. four hundred acres
OF land in Ohio county. including his
settlement made thereon In the year OF
our Lord l77I. by order OF certificate
granted by the commissioner for the
District OF MOnonGalia, NoheOgania and
Ohio. bearing date Of November G. l1is,
situate and being on the east side OF the
Ohio river, and bounded as follows. to-
Wit:
beginning at an elm tree. corner OF
land OF McMechen. and standing on the
bank OF the Ohio river and running
with this line east lI9 poles to white
oak. thence north II degrees west. so
poles 10 sugar tree, thence north i
degrees east, 32I poles 10 a sugar tree.
thence south So degrees west. "a poles
70 poplar standing on the bank, cor
nsr OF John BoSgs. thence down the
river with the meanders thereof and
binding thereon, 65g pales TO the place
OF beginning.
(SIgned)