The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-08-22

10 avoid the situation in which they
might be exposed to the obseryation
OF other men.
In journeying through the wilder
ness and after having crossed the
Cheat river at the horse shoe, now in
Tucker county, quarrel arose be-
tween Simpson and one OF the
PringIes. and Notwithstanding that
peace and harmony were so neces-
sary to their mutual safety and COM
fort. yet each SO far INDUCED the
angry passions which had been ex-
cited, as at length to produce a sep
aration.
Simpson Names Greek.
Simpson crossed the valley river
near the mouth of Pleasant creek.
and passing on to the head OF an
other water course gave it the name
of Simpsons creek, which still bears
his name. Thence he went west
wardly and came on to the waters
of stream which he called Elk
creek, because of the number of an
finals OF that name which he encoun-
tered On the opposite side of the
West Fork river from the mouth of
Elk creek and not far from the fair
grounds on what is known as the
Stealey farm he established his camp
and pursued his occupation OF 4
trapper.
After remaining for a year. in
which time he enither saw the Prin-
giles nor any other human being, and
journeyed to the South Branch val
ley taking what furs he could carry
with him to trade for supplies
The Border Warfare states that
he returned to his encampment and
continued there until permanent set
Elements were made in the vicinity.
1t is hardly to be supposed that
he resided constantly at the mouth
of Elk creek. but used it as head
quarters for his trapping expeditions
as 1t was several years before set
tiers came into the neighborhood.
Dreary Wilderness.
At the time of Simpsons arrival
at the site of Clarksburg there was
not an acre of land in northwestern
Virginia under cultivation. All was
a dready wilderness occupied by buff
falo, elk, deer, bear and turkeys and
the streams swarming with fish, So
far as is known John Simpson was
the first man who stood upon the
banks of the West Fork river.
A stray trapper or a prisoner to
the Indians may have passed alone
its waters, but history or tradition
must be given to him.
1t can be imagined that Simpson
had a lonely time of it with no COM
panion but his own thoughts, no
sounds greeting his ear but his own
voice and the bowls of wild beasts
quivering upon the slumbering sea
of the forest night and living In
hourly dread of the approach of a
savage foe. But this sturdy pfon-
eer preferred to brave all Of these
perils and discomforts rather than
be hampered by the restraints of a
civilized life. He was one of the
outer pfckets of civilization. the van
guard ever in advance of that grand
army of emigration that was soon
to roll around and thousands OF
miles beyotd his humble cabin
But little is known of the subse-
ouent history of John Simpson. Like
many frontiersmen, when settlers
began to come into his neighbor-
hood, he moved further on, most
likely into Ohio.
The commissioners appointed to
settle the claims to unpatented land
at its session In 1871 granted GER
tificate of ownership to John Simp-
son for 400 acres of land on the
West Fork river. opposite the mouth
of Elk creek to include his settle
ment made in 1872. This tract in
cluded the fair grounds and the
Stealey lands.
Simpson never perfected his title
to this land, but as was the custom
sold and assigned the certificate to
Nicholas Carpenter and 1t was pat
ented to him. Carpenter built a
house on it in 1885 that stood for
more than one hundred years.
CottriIl Found Dead.
He appears once upon the surface
of affairs as principal In quar-
ed with one of the Cottrills about a
peck Of salt. which resulted in Cott-
rill being found deao near the cab
in of Simpson with his gun cooked,
having been shot by him. As there
were no courts established at the
time there is no record of any legal
proceedings being taken against
Simpson on account of this affair.
John and Samuel Pringle after
they had separated from Simpson
continued on up the Valley river to
where it is Joined by the Buck han.
non river, and continuing up it and