Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-10-28
GREtEBRlER-. WESTWARD,

II the wisdom OF the early settlers
in this valley. When he remembers
that the Midland Trail of to-day i,
The route Of the assembled Army
from this section. from Augusta
and Boletart county. Virginia.
to kanawha River, and thence down
that stream 10 Point Pleasant where
the Indian Battle by that name was
fught in l77i; and after which Sc
curly from the indians was assured,
how rapidly this section WAS filed
by settlers. he is again nradc 10 real
lie their superior intelligence. 4
more fertile country never existed.
The whole course westward is
made up OF well kept farms, Splcu-
did well-built farm houses, wide
stretches Of the best grazing land,
modern farming machinery, hcards
Of fine cattle and sheep, and above
all intelligent end widc-awakc farm
ers and their equally intelligent, and
refined families.
These are all, or nearly SO. de-
sccndants Of the early pioneers who
came over from the Valley Of Vir-
glnla. AS many of them were sol
diers i'll the Battle Of Point Pleasant,
it is no wonder they made their
hrt settlements on their line of
march TO that battle. They knew
that particular section, its fertility
and its possibilities. When high
way was needed it is but natural
that they laid it out on the old line
pf march. They did it not only be
cause 1t was practical. but because
II was something near to them in
their very lives and thH. Of their an
ccstcrS. because many then were the
Immediate descendants OF those
hardy soldiers who had marched
along this course to rid the country
from the danger of the Indian. This
IS the beginning of the old Historic
James River and kanawha Turn
pike. 1t served as highway Of
travel from its first inception to the
building Of the c. 4 o. Railway
years after. III fact much of the
material for the extension of this
railroad was conveyed by siN-mulc
teams over the James River and IA
nawha Turnpike. The emigrants
West passed over this road into the
oldcn time wagons 10 the great CEN
trail planes Of The West, or to the
head waters Of navigation on the
Kanawha River or on to the Ohio
Riv.r ,yh.rn t,.,' us ,,. o ,r
dav tI,c pronS nh;,dr" D W. -,
and fonrih nsnoro+innn ~ nv ~,
in the Western Ct,tor ~ ttott. J,nr',t
pioneers who west,,,ard ,,,n,, .',' Wy
Midland Trail. Over this road
statesmen Travelled to and from
cludcd Henry CI,v and ,,'l,n,,,
jackson. ''' "
\, b;.bu.,, :, ,,o r.;., c,
is morc f.r,;ie - ' n;s,a ni.." o!ntn
,h,n i, ,,;dnn1 ,r,..;i '.o e ~ N''tn
is rich IN ..yrnts and orn,,nrn " ~
all kind AND ch,r,r,.r ~, ',,,', ~ y,
those Who ,.r fovnrrd - I;,.n .ia, ~
its course. Int vc,rl, ,ctic,., ,r ,., r''
ccjvcd from n.nnIr !, DO W,n'.t -,
sir;uo iurnru,,;nr -,.i.,,;,.,, >, ',,,
particular event. with r.h;nh , ,hn;,,
ancestors xy.r. ,v,nc;,,.L N;,,i',,
Trail. as yr know !, tn.J,, !. n,,
shrincd in Ehr lives ar no., ,ni,
hundred, hu, ,hor>,ndv ri nconI"
residing in every State in The i-n;nn
by tradition or hi>luric oyrni ,,-n.
GATED win their ancestors
II has been dcsjon.tcd by r.,.o,
Of lis historic inlrrcs, rs IN inter
state highway Ijnj,inu ;nnrlbrr inc
West and The East. When !, i. cam.
pletcd it will be Travelled bv ,,tn
tourists with thc most lavish ,nd
intense interes, BIS reason nf mis-
historic and tradiiiouaI intrrcs, thry
have in il. There is no highway in
the nation to excel il. Not only has
ii all that is of historic interest bu,