The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-06-25
DLETON COUNTY As
SEEN BY A sTAFF WRITER
A Magnificent County Far From Noise
And Smoke.

DIR. Reed, of Oakland, IN his Overland
car on a trip into Pendeleton county,
W. Va, leaving Oakland Friday even
ing, via Kelso's and Gormania to Mt.
Storm where the night was passed at
the pleasant home of ]. H. Schaffer.
The road from Mt. Lake Park to Cor
mania is being very much improved by
Road Supervisor Abraham Moon. 1t is
a hard road to put and keep in order.
Saturday morning Mt. Storm was
left at 7 a. m. and the journey to
Upper Tract, Pendleton county, began.
Itlwas delightful ride of Sc miles,
through picturesque county, in and
among the hills of Grant county, via
Greenland Gap and Petersburg. The
valley in which are located Petersburg
and Upper Tract is very fertile, and
has many cheerful looking homes and
splendid farms. The church buildings
and school houses indicate the thrift
and pride of the people, and impress
the travelling public favorably. The
public roads are fine. The scenery
through Greenland Gap is enjoyable
and we'll worth going to see. One is
pleasantly impressed by the we'll kept
yards of the homes of the farmers.
Flowers abound, crimson roses pre-
dominate. They were beautiful. AS
a general thing the homes were neatly
painted.
The crops of barley, rye, wheat.
corn and potatoes were fine. Many
potato patches were in bloom. The
rye and wheat will be ready to cut in
about week. Grant county presents
splendid showing of the prosperity and
happiness of contented people. The
traveller can tell when he enters Pen
dleten county. A great change occurs.
The roads are poor, the school houses
painless and the homes and farm
buildings less attractive. OF course there
are exceptions, splendid homes and
large barns. Every several miles
country stores are seen; burr and roller
mills are frequent. Most of the grain
raised is ground into flour and feed, on
account of. the distance from the rail-
road. Good flour is put on the market
by these millers and sell at less figure
than the Minnesota flour.
Upper Tract was reached in time for
dinner, which was greatly enjoyed by
two hungry, tired travellers, at the
home of Rev. Idleman. After dinner
the automobile was vacated and the
writer took passage in Rev. Idleman's
buggy for Fort Seypert, twelve miles
distant, over one of West Virginia's
high mountains and over what is des-
ignated as a road. The road from
Hoyes to Friendsville is a fine road
when compared to this road, rough,
stony, steep and as crooked as the
letter S. 1t took US three hours to
reach Fort Seypert, historic village,
located in the South Fork valley and on
the Smith Fork river. The view from
the mountain summit is magnificent.
The valley is about three-fourths of a
mile wide, and several miles long, dot
ted with the fine homes of thrifty
farmers, with well cultivated, fertile
farms, with bountiful harvest before
them. The grain fields are yellow with
ripening grain.
Fort Seypert IN the early history of
the country was considered the bound
ary line of civilization; beyond it was
unknown, UNEMPLOYED great west. Here
was built and maintained fort. Some
time in 1853 band of Shawnee Indians,
on the war path, attacted the fort and
defeated its defenders. Those not
killed during the assault were killed
after the surrender, except two young
men, Seypert and Dyer. The chief
took fancy to young Seypert, who
intended killing him, but was prevent
ed from so doing by his father, who
struck his arm and destroyed the aim
of the rifle. Young Dyer had tried to
escape and manifested much bravery,
hence secured favor and escaped death.
The Governor of Virginia sent soldiers
to the scene, but alas, too late to save
the fort. The soldiers buried the dead
on the hill above the fort. The graves
of these prisoners may be seen today.
1t was the writer's privilege to spend
the night at the home of the venerable
William Miller, a descendent of one of
the early settlers of the valley, the
home being located on the site of the
old fort. We shall pleasantly remem-
Der the delightful visit to this home
and of this scenic valley, and the
people we met. Fort Sypert is only
five miles from the Virginia State line,
which is located on the top of the Shen-
andoah mountains.
Monday we dropped into one of the
country stores of Upper Tract and saw
the large country cured meat room of
the store. 1t was sight of old style,
home cured sides, shoulders and hams,
most delicious meat. We sampled it
while in that vicinity. They were sold
at nrices much lower than the Armour