Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-02-13
EARLY HOMES OF
BARBOUR COUNTY
r. D. Kssntz-Notes by S. M. d.
Ko0ntz.
The Old Stone House.

on the waters of Sugar Greek is to
!, be found what is probably one of
the most ancient ruins in Barbour
County The fallen walls of the
"Old Stone House" moss covered
and almost hidden beneath tangles
of vine and brier Frederick Booth,
who is SO years of age was born in
this building and it had probably
been standing at the time of his
birth for half century The house
was built by John Hill the pioneer
of the Hill family, of whose history
but little was known. The founda-
I ton of this structure was laid on a
solid rock near the bed of a small
brook, being built with basement
in which was a spring cut in the
4 solid rock, which would indicate
/ that it was intended as fort as
well as dwelling. 1t was covered
with shingles, had three stairways
and abundantly supplied with press
es. The stone for this building was
taken from a cluster of Indian graves
near the house, which was proof the
building had but little reverence for
the tombs of the savages. Many
stories are told of the finds of
cavation, yet while the house was
large one, and built entirely of cob
Bile stones the rock from the Indian
tonbs was not exhausted The
house was plastered on the inside
and very finely finished in hardwood
It's first floor doors opened almost
into the old highway connected the
settlements of this section with those.
of Virginia and Maryland In this
mansion gathered the early settlers
for many miles around to hear the
"OId Circuit Rider" who not only
covered counties but parts of states
preaching the Gospel. Ii was a rem
devious of travellers far and near
and the hospitality of the "Old Stone
House" was known far and wide.
Here its builder John Hill lived and
died, and was buried almost within
a stones throw of its door, near the
/ Indian tombs. The next to occupy
it was billie" Hill, followed by
Frederick Hill and last Carrot Cade,
who noting the weakening of it's
\ foundations decided to vacate it, in
a short time after his vacation the,
historic structure fell in 1858.
Near this old ruin By the site of
Hills FIRST cabin still stands lone,
Columbia Poplar" dying limb by
limb under its weight of more than
a century of years. The rose bushes
which were once tame and blusfmng,
under the touch and care of loving
hands have returneal to natures
heritage of the wild but with their
perfume untainted and their beauty
unsullied they still unfold their pet
ais to the sun of June. About the
old garden plot the. plow-share still
unearths the Red Hunters arrow
heads and the same pfow-share reveal
the broken bits Of ancient china
ware with the Blue of Hollands
shores of windmill and dixie. mere
remnants of our early history, yet,
how much they hold the connecting
link between the Dead and the. living
the only echo of the voice of the
dim past speaking to the living pres
ent and living ON in the future.
A Mysterious Path.
Neither the Indians nor any race
which preceded them have left any
tangible evidence behind them to in
, dictate their occupation of Barbour
, County, though countless arrow
heads, spear heads, bird points
tomahawks, whet-rocks and other
! relics are often picked up in the
fields by the watchful citizens. Or
the highest point in this section OF
q what is known as the Chick Hill
! is what seems to have been an In
dian camping ground, thousands O.
: spauls from flint implements are t.
be found here. What seems to hav,
been cooking stones and whet rock.
are abundant,
In one of the roekiest glens in thi
section leading to this hill is plainl,
visible the remains of a few rods O
: path about three feet wide, smooth
, at the bottom and carefully mad
with fiat rocks set in edgewise mucl
: like curb-stones-all other parts 0
:. the path have fallen to ruin appar
i entity and is lost to view
q The oldest settlers seem to hav
il never discovered its existence an
N know nothing of its history-eithe
. this was one of the branches of tn
% various Indian trails--a path to
as well known camp ground frequente
u by the Red Hunters of by gone day
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