The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-09-05
BELLAIRE

Quaint. historic Bellaire. the rrst
county seat OF Belmont county. which
plans TO celebrate its semi-cente nnial
anniversary October I. =. and :. was
incorporated as a city March %. 1860.
hence Bellaire Ia just little past the
half century mark. but Young enough
yet In which to grow and develop and
distinguish herself
All reliable data that can be obtain
ed as 10 the race of people that in
habited what now constitutes the Ohio
valley. does not go back earlier than
the middle OF the seventeenth century
Then the site on which stands Bel
laire was a great wilderness covered
with deep forests. So far as can be
learned. a powerful tribe OF Indians
made this section their permanent
abode urtil routed by the white man
The Indian Trail the Zane ROAD"
and the National road. the former run
ming from Wheeling TO McMahon's
creek. and the latter leading west
ward from Wheeling made this sec
ton OF Ohio the last hunting ground
OF the Indian. the topography OF the
country suiting his purposes
The Indian Days.
So long as there is an Indian run
IN Bellaire. there will be a reminder
OF the people who once occupied this
territory. For here once lived the
Indian. and here. too. are TO be found
the bones OF some OF the members
OF the once strong tribe that inhabited
this section. Under the same sun
. which rolls over Bellaire the Indian
hunted the wild game OF the forests.
and here. too. he fought and defended
himself as best he could. until van
pushed. To the animosify of the Red
Men at the encroachmont OF the pale
faces may be attributed the fact that
a few years ago the skeleton of
white man found buried in the sand
near Forty-second street. east OF
Noble. T. is supposed that this
skeleton was the remains of one OF
two scuuts sent out during the Fort
Henry Indian troubles az Wheeling
more than a century ago n the time
when Elizabeth zane distinguished
herself by "A well known act OF hero
ism.
II was under these trying condi-
tons that John Duer In 1888 settled
upon the land on which the city -
located. The land was conveyed in
that year 10 Duer ny a government
grant from the land office IN Stcuhen-
Vile. Duer sold this land on July 3
OF the same year 10 John buchanan.
The latter left the property by Will
10 his three sons.
Town Named Bell Air.
To Jacob Davis. who emigrated
from Hartford county. Maryland. b..
longs the honor of establishing m.
new town. Mr. Davis settled here
In 1902 and purchased The interests
OF two OF John BucbauanS sons
Later John ROdefrr purchased tne
third sons interest which lav lust
south OF Indian Run r. was IN 1884
that Mr.. Davis appro ciating the adj
yantages OF tho location. laid ont six
acres OF The land In lots. naming the
place Bell Air. in honor of his native
town IN Maryland Twenty years
later. John sullivan. one OF the piou-
eer settlers. and perhaps th" one man
who. while b. lived. mas done more
for Bcllaire than any ten men com.
bined. and Moses SarChett. az that
time a director OF the Central ohio
railroad. got together and suggested
that the nam,. DO changed 10 its pres
ent form B"llairr The Original
town was located between Twenty
extending west from the OHIO river
10 a line west o. Belmont street Do
ls32 there were four houses near
McMahou creek. In that wear Capt.
John Fink purchased all the land
south o! th- creek for $500. Here
IN what is kiOyu as Old Bciiaire. was
tho first grocery. fGe first shoemaker
shop. th" first blacksmith shop ana
the first carpenter shOp. This con
stifu'ef 90 that time the bu-in.-. and
industrial Development OF Bciiairc
The evolution within period of
So years az civil community The
Belair" 90 present. with ifs pOpglt
Ton. industrial wealth and productive
force. i'- religions aud educational
development from farm lHrI- dotted
here and there Nifh 90 IUg cabin. .-
one OF fhc wart-I- o. rho history OBJ.
th~ fnVn o. i- .mpD-- Ihle .n such
q Ilm 'ed space. POO enter into dsfHI. ot
m. interesting and oven tt-.lIue
event 'ra' en f1 make up fha bis
tory ~ RoIa.r" Eu' t utI %. f.s