HISTORY OF BECKLEY AND RALEIGH COUNTY
Early Settlers of Raleigh County, West Virginia
The following article by Judge W. A. Riffe appeared in the Beckley Post-Herald Centennial Edition on Aug. 26, 1950.1810 - 1820
ADKINS, Matthew - A native of Franklin County, Va.; he settled on Cooper's Creek near the Beckley Water Company dam about 1815.
ADKINS, Parker - Parker was also a native of Franklin County and settled on Pinch Creek near Pluto. His sons were Larkin, Robert, Richells, and Anderson.
BENNETT, Robert - Bennett probably settled on the New River plateau near Pear post office. His son Jacob lived in that neighborhood and was a large landowner.
DAVIS, Peter - Davis came from Greenbrier River just below Big Bend and settled on the Squire William C. Richmond farm. John Davis, his son moved to Little Whitestick Creek near Mount Tabor about 1850. William Davis, the eldest son of John was a prominent citizen of the Mount Tabor community and a commissioner of the County Court from 1893 to 1899. Peter Davis, son of John, was a Confederate soldier and was killed by bushwhackers when returning home after the war.
ELLISON, James - He first settled on Marsh Fork, at the mouth of Hazy Creek, where Edwight is located. About 1812 he moved just below the Marshes near the old Trump Mill Ford. He lived there until about 1819 and then returned to his old home in Monroe County, but came back in 1829 to Sand Lick at the Shumate farm. He was a Baptist preacher and died in Roanoke County in 1834 on his return from a Baptist General Association at Richmond. He had five sons who were Baptist ministers.
FARLEY, Drewry - Farley came from Mercer County and settled on Drews Creek, a tributary of Peach Tree in Marsh Fork District, later moving to Kanawha County. Drews Creek was named for him.
GORE, Joseph - A native of Island Creek in Mercer County, he settled on Rock House Fork of Maple Meadow around 1818. He was not a permanent settler, moving to Logan County around 1825. Three of his daughters, however, remained in Raleigh County. Catherine married Robert Massey, Celia married Jacob Pettry and Nancy wed Robert Acord.
HARPER, Joseph - A native of Monroe County, Harper settled on Clear Fork of Coal River near the Clear Creek post office. He was sheriff of Fayette County during the 1840's, being the only man in the territory later embraced in Raleigh County who served in that capacity. His son, Jacob, who lived at Harper, was a prominent citizen and an early school teacher in that section. He married Elvira, a daughter of George Snuffer. In April 1864 he was taken from his home in the night and murdered by four outlaws who were regularly enrolled soldiers of the Confederate Army. Jacob Harper was noted for his kindness to the poor during the Civil War and made no distinction between Union and Confederate families. His sons, A. J. and George W., served as sheriffs of Raleigh County. Jacob was a large landholder and left a large estate to his family.
HARVEY, John - Harvey settled on Cranberry Branch at the old McCreery place, but moved to the neighborhood of Fayetteville in the early 1830's. He was the father of Morris Harvey, the Fayette County financier and philanthropist.
JARRELL, Gibson and Lemuel - These two brothers came from Monroe County, with Gibson settling on the Clear Fork on the Coal River near the mouth of Sycamore Creek, and Lemuel moving first to Paint Creek in the Cirtsville neighborhood, later going to the Clear Fork of Coal River near the mouth of Sycamore.
MEADOWS, Issac - Meadows moved to New River on the W. C. Richmond farm. He and his brother-in-law, Peter Davis, owned a fine body of land on which the Richmond farm is located, originally known as "Briery Bottom". Issac Meadows was the great-great grandfather of former Governor Clarence Meadows.
PACK, Samuel - A native of Monroe County, Pack moved to Cooper's Creek (tributary of Glade Creek) at the foot of White Oak Mountain about 1815. He was a large landholder and a wealthy and prominent man in the early days. His house was on the main road through this section and he was a "Tavern Keeper".
PLUMLEY, John - He opened a farm on Plumley Mountain near Pear post office and was an ancestor of the numerous Plumley family in that section.
REDDEN, John - Redden settled on Redden's Ridge near Table Rock. His sons were Harrison, Michael, William, and Joseph.
SCARBROUGH, John - A native of Monroe County, he moved to Toney's Fork near Clear Creek post office. He married Clara Harper, a sister of Joseph. His son John W. Scarbrough, was a large landowner.
SHUMATE, Daniel - Shumate, a native of Monroe County, settled at the mouth of Shumate's Branch near Edwight in 1810, but in a year or so moved to the Marshes to what is known as the George W. Calloway place. He had five sons: James, Amos, John, Tollison, Newton and Daniel, Jr., all of whom were outstanding. Tollison was a noted pioneer school teacher. Daniel Jr., was the first clerk of the Raleigh County Court, serving from 1850 to 1862. During the Civil War he was taken as a "citizen prisoner" to Camp Chase Prison in Ohio, where he died. Newton Shumate was also taken to Camp Chase with his brother, Daniel, where he was kept until the close of hostilities. John Shumate's son Felix was a Confederate soldier in Captain Stephen Adams' company. He was of a literary turn and kept a diary throughout the war. Newton's son, George W., was a Confederate soldier in Captain Benjamin Linkous' company. Daniel's sons, H. K. and William T., were Confederate soldiers.
STOVER, Jacob - Originally a native of Franklin County, Va., Jacob moved to the Clear Fork of Coal River just below the mouth of Spruce about 1819. He had seven sons: Obediah, Abraham, John, Lewis, Sampson, Jacob, and Jubal, and two daughters, Fannie, who married Joseph Harper, and Susan who married John Williams.
WILLIAMS, David - A native of Giles County, Va., Williams moved to the Clear Fork of Coal River, later settling on Paint Creek near Cirtsville. His son, John Williams, lived on Little Whitestick Creek, near the present Shumate Dairy, and had four sons in the Confederate Army: Lewis, Daniel and Jackson, who was killed at Cloyd's Farm, and Burrell.
1820-1830
ACORD, John and Robert - Brothers who were from Monroe County, John and Robert moved to Breckinridge Creek near Bolt about 1825. Jack Acord, as he was familiarly known, was a famous hunter, wit, and story teller. Many stories about him and many of his quaint expressions have been handed down to the present generation. Totally illiterate, he was, however, a man of great native ability and a born leader of men. He was an ardent Confederate and although 65 years of age at the beginning of the war, he enlisted for service, but was honorably discharged after about a year. Two of his sons, Robert and Floyd, were Confederate soldiers. He was the guide companion of Governor John Floyd on his hunting trips in this county. Robert Acord was the father of Squire William C. Acord, who served many years on the County Court of Raleigh County and was a prominent citizen.
BAILEY, John - Bailey came to Paint Creek from Franklin County about 1827, later moving to the Shumate Dairy farm. His sons were Sparriel, Booker, George, and Leftwich. Sparriel's son, John W., was a Confederate soldier and never returned. His fate was never known. Sparriel's [Booker's] widowed daughter was Mrs. Jane Fleshman, who married Robert C. Christian in Mercer County in December 1865. Robert was a noted Confederate hero and lived in the Mt. Tabor neighborhood for several years. Harvey Cook and I. C. Prince well remember seeing the terrible bayonet scars on his body from the wounds inflicted by five Federal soldiers at Frayser's Farm in June 1862. Of the five, he killed four and his brother, Eli, coming to his rescue killed the fifth. This was one of the outstanding exploits by a private of the entire war. His exploits are mentioned in Douglas Southall Freeman's "Lee's Lieutenants." He was only 19 years old at the time.
BRADLEY, Joshua - Bradley came to lower Marsh Fork near Montcoal from Bedford County, Va., and his first land grant was dated 1829. All Bradleys of Raleigh and Boone County are descendants of Joshua.
BRAGG, Thomas - Thomas settled on New River. His sons were Lewis, Hazzard, Thomas, Abraham, Adam, William, and Jackson.
COOK, Pemberton - A native of Wyoming County, Pemberton was the oldest son of William Cook, son of John Cook, the Wyoming settler. He married Ruth, the daughter of Daniel Shumate, and settled at the Richard Snuffer place near Glen Daniel about 1829, but after a few years went back to Wyoming to live. He lived there a short time and then moved to Cove Creek in Raleigh County. Two sons, Andrew and Daniel, were Union soldiers in the Eighth Virginia Infantry. Both died of disease while in service. Pemberton was a noted hunter in the early days.
DICKENS, Thomas - A native of Carroll County, Va., he settled at Peach Tree. His first land grant was dated 1829.
ELLISON, Matthew - Matthew was a native of Monroe County, a son of the Rev. James Ellison. He settled at the falls of Breckenridge near the old mill site about 1829, moving to Sand Lick about 1836, where he was a large land- holder. In February 1850 he moved to Beckley opposite the courthouse on Main Street, where he operated a store and hotel. He was a distinguished Baptist preacher and was pastor of the Coal Marsh Baptist Church at Trap Hill for 45 years. Immediately on coming to Beckley, he organized the Baptist Church here. Three of his sons, Judson, William L., and Matthew A., were Confederate soldiers. Judson was a lieutenant in Company A, 17th Virginia Cavalry (Mercer County company). William L. was in Adams' Company, 30th Virginia Battalion. Matthew A. was in Company C, 36th Virginia Regiment. The latter, Dr. Matthew A. Ellison, practiced dentistry in Beckley from shortly after the Civil War until his death in 1905. Dr. E. L. Ellison and J. S. Ellison were his sons.
FIPPS (Phipps), Fielding - A native of Monroe, he was a son-in-law of the Rev. James Ellison and settled on Sand Lick in 1829, where he was a large landholder and a leading citizen. He was a member of the Fayette County Court at the time of his death in 1849. His son, Eli, was a Confederate soldier.
HOPKINS, Henry S. - Hopkins came from England and was a highly educated physician, although somewhat dissipated. His first land grant in Raleigh County was dated 1829. He later lived for many years on Dingess, at the W. G. Calloway place, where Al Lucas now lives. He later went to Boone County to live. The late J. M. Hopkins of Madison, financier and sheriff, was his grandson.
HUTCHINSON, Charles - A native of Monroe County, he married Elizabeth Ellison, daughter of the Rev. James Ellison, settling on the headwaters of Sand Lick on Route 3, just above the Shumate place, in 1829. About 1847 he moved to Crab Orchard and a few years before the Civil War moved to the Lester community, where he lived until his death some years after the war. Upon the organization of the Coal Marsh Baptist Church in 1854, he became it's clerk, in which capacity he served for many years. His son, A. J. Hutchinson, was a Confederate soldier and sergeant of Adams' company, and for a long time was a prominent county school teacher, serving as county superintendent from 1893 to 1895. John Q. Hutchinson is his son. A. J. was an unusually fine singer and was a song leader in camp singing, as well as in the regular religious services and camp revivals.
LAFFERTY, Ralph and Steele - they settled on Marsh Fork.
MASSEY, Robert, Henry, and William - These three brothers came from Monroe, with Robert moving to Maple Meadow on the Vass place, Henry settling in the Marshes at the Ash Mankin place, later moving to Fayette County, and William moving to Rock Creek. The Masseys of Marsh Fork District are his descendants.
MOORE, James - James, a native of Monroe, married Nancy, a daughter of Daniel Shumate. He lived on a portion of the Stansbury farm near Glen Daniel, on the north side of Logan Turnpike. His son, George Moore, went to California in 1849, making the trip overland. George returned for a visit in 1867 after an absence of 18 years. The return trip was made by water around the horn.
PETTRY, Martin and Jacob - Father and son, the Pettrys came from Giles (now Mercer). Martin moved to the mouth of Little Marsh at what is now Packsville, and Jacob settled at the mouth of Hazy (Edwight). Jacob was at one time one of the largest land owners of the county. From 1849 to 1856 he lived at the McGinnis farm on Soak Creek.
RICHMOND, William and Samuel - Father and son, they were originally from Greenbrier County, but moved to Richmond Falls on New River around 1822. William was a Revolutionary soldier and pensioner. Samuel owned the fine bottom and island at Richmond Falls, was wealthy and a leading citizen. He was of Union sentiment during the Civil War, and was murdered by a party of Confederate bushwhackers in 1863.
SNUFFER, George - Grandson of a German immigrant who settled in Berks County, Pa. in 1751, George was the son of George Snuffer, Sr., who moved to Montgomery County, Va. in the 1770's. George Jr. moved to Breckenridge Creek near Bolt in 1829. His sons were Theodoric, Owen, Cyrus, and George Jr. Theodoric went to Missouri in the 1830's. Owen's son George was a Confederate soldier, belonging to the Wythe County company. He was killed at the Battle of Malvern Hill in 1862. Cyrus' son George was a Confederate soldier in Adams' company. He died at a camp hospital in Staunton, Va. George Snuffer Sr. had five grandsons who served as sheriffs of Raleigh County: Henry M. Riffe, William C. Riffe, A. J. Harper, J. W. Harper, and H. A. Snuffer. The elder George was a soldier in the War of 1812.
1830-1840
ABBOTT, Wilson - A native of Monroe, he settled on Dry Creek about 1838, where he was a large landholder. He was the first assessor of Raleigh County and also one of the early sheriffs.
ALLEN, James, Cary, and Nehemiah - Natives of Carroll County, Va., they settled in the Marshes. Cary returned to Carroll. Cary was the grandfather of Floyd and Sidney Allen who shot up the courthouse at Hillsville, Va.
BAILEY, Issac - A grandson of Richard Bailey, one of the ancient pioneers of Mercer County and son of Archibald Bailey who settled on Clear Fork of Guyan about 1815, he lived in the Lester and Marshes neighborhood for many years and then returned to Wyoming. He was a school teacher and physician. Greene W. Bailey, his oldest son, enlisted in the Confederate Army at the start of the war, and was wounded in one of the early actions in the Kanawha Valley and was discharged. His son, Alderson Bailey, enlisted in his father's place. Alderson was seriously wounded at the Battle of Cloyd's Farm.
BECKLEY, Alfred - Born in Washington, D. C., he was a son of John and Mariah Prince Beckley. John lived at Richmond. Mariah was a daughter of James Prince of Philadelphia. Alfred Beckley graduated from West Point in the class of 1823 and came to Beckley to live in 1837. A brigadier general in the Virginia militia, he entered the Confederate service but was relieved in about a year because of bad health. Three of his sons, Henry, William, and Isaac, were in Confederate service. Henry was colonel of a regiment of cavalry.
BROWN, Alexander - A native of Monroe County, he moved to Marsh Fork near Montcoal on Upper Big Branch. His sons were William, Harrison, Peter, and John.
BRYSON, James - Bryson was a native of North Carolina but moved to Monroe County. He first settled on the Ferguson farm in the Marshes near Glen Daniel about 1835, later moving to Maple Meadow, where he was a large landholder. He was the father of Major Alexander Bryson, prominent local citizen. Alexander, while not regularly enlisted in the Confederate Army, was very active in the interests of the Confederacy throughout the war. His grandson is D. W. Bryson, present superintendent of Raleigh County schools.
BURGESS, Hiram - A native of Monroe County, he settled in the Marshes, later on Soak Creek and then at Crab Orchard. His daughter, Narcissus, married Daniel Shumate, Sr.
CANTLEY, Alexander - Cantley came from Monroe and settled on Rock Creek in the early 1830's.
CLAY, John T. and Meredith - These two brothers were originally from Giles County, Va. John T. moved to Marsh Fork, where he was a large landholder and first sheriff of Raleigh County. Meredith settled on Miller's Camp Branch. His first land grant was dated 1834. John T. and Meredith were sons of Mitchell Clay, Jr. and grandsons of Mitchell Clay, Sr. who settled on the Clover Bottoms of Bluestone in 1775.
DAVIS, Lucien B. - A resident of Mechanicsburg in Bland County, Va., he came to "Owlsburg", present Crouch farm, about 1836, to manage Floyd's store. In addition to operating the store he taught school for several years. He married Martha, daughter of Lemuel Jarrell, in 1841, and lived at Owlsburg until 1856, when he moved to Beckley. Davis served as county assessor before the Civil War and was the father of John F. Davis, who served as circuit clerk, county clerk, and sheriff of Raleigh County.
DUNN, John - Settling on Sand lick after moving from Wyoming County, he married Mary Ann, daughter of Charles Hutchinson, in 1844, moving to Crab Orchard about 1847 and then to Slab Fork in 1856. He was a Confederate soldier, serving in Capt. William Thurmond's company.
FARMER, John - A resident of Wyoming by way of Monroe County, he settled on Breckinridge near Bolt about 1836. He was originally from Pittsylvania County, Va. Two sons, Hugh and John R., were Confederate soldiers and Hugh lost a leg in the Clark House fight in 1862.
FLOYD FAMILY - This family, while none permanently resided in Raleigh, was early identified with this region. Dr. John Floyd lived in Wythe County, Va. (now Pulaski) between Newburn and Draper's Valley. He was a member of Congress several terms and in 1831 became governor. For many years he maintained a hunting camp on Soak Creek, a short distance west of Sophia, on what later became the McGinnis farm. This farm was designated on the early land books as being located at "Floyd's Camp". The small stream on which the camp was located is known as "Governor's Camp Branch" and the spring nearby was known as "Governor's Spring". His sons, John B., Rush, and George, would accompany him on his hunting trips. John B., about 1835, established a store at the residence of Conrad Riffe, on the Owlsburg farm in the Marshes. This store was managed by Lucien B. Davis and the main business was exchanging goods for ginseng and peltry. The store prospered and was continued until the latter 40's. John B. also bought cattle in this section for his Burk's Garden Farm in Tazewell County. John B. Floyd became governor in 1850, was secretary of war in President Buchanan's cabinet and a brigadier general of the Confederacy. Major R. C. Floyd spent a great deal of his time in his young days in Raleigh County. He was an intelligent man but did not have his brother John's thrifty habits. He was celebrated for his brilliant conversational powers. He finally settled in Logan County (now Mingo), where he lived until his death at an advanced age.
HULL, Henry - Hull moved to Shady Spring from Monroe County in 1832. He kept a tavern there. His son Lewis, who lived near Raleigh Depot, was one of the original Union men at the beginning of the Civil War, and was first sheriff of the county after the war. Lewis Hull operated a grist mill at Raleigh for many years.
LAWRENCE, Charles - A native of Montgomery County, Va., he moved to Daniels about 1835 and lived at the place where former Sheriff C. C. Lewis now lives. He moved to Fayette County before the Civil War.
LILLY, Edmond and Elijah - These two brothers originally lived on Lower Bluestone (now Summers County). Edmond settled at Mt. View and Elijah settled at Ghent. Edmond's sons, James and Henderson, were Confederate soldiers. James was a lieutenant. Henderson went to Indiana at the close of the war, where he died at the age of 101 years. When 98 years old he attended the celebration at Gettysburg in 1938, the oldest soldier there. He was one of the last survivors of the war and probably the very last from Raleigh County. Elijah's sons, William H., James, Thomas E., and Preston, were Confederate soldiers.
MAYNOR, Richard - A native of Franklin County, Va., he settled on Paint Creek. His son, G. W., was a Union soldier.
McVEY, Richard - A son of James McVey, he came from Franklin County, Va., and settled on Flat Top. James moved to Ohio. Richard married Lucinda Cooper, daughter of John Cooper of Bluestone. He first settled at Raleigh Depot, then at Sullivan and was a surveyor. He was in Confederate service and died at Mobile, Ala. Richard's son John was a Confederate soldier. Richard's grandfather McVey was a Revolutionary soldier and was color bearer of his regiment and witnessed the surrender of Yorktown.
O'NEAL, William and Jesse - These two brothers came from Carroll County, Va. William married Nancy, daughter of Ellison and Sarah Acord Christian, and settled on Maple Meadow. Jesse married Mary, daughter of Daniel Shumate, and settled at Lester. In 1856, Jesse sold his farm to John W. Clay and moved to Missouri. His oldest son, Daniel, remained in Raleigh County. Daniel served in both armies, but was not a deserter. He first entered Confederate service, was captured, taken to Camp Chase Prison in Ohio and entered the Union Army in order to get released from prison. He was in the latter army at the Battle of Cloyd's Farm, where he rendered kindly service to some of his old neighbors and friends who were seriously wounded. William's sons, James and William, Jr., were Confederate soldiers. James died in prison.
PHILLIPS, Vinson - Phillips settled on Glade Creek.
PITTMAN, John - John came from Lower Bluestone (now Summers County) and settled on Little Beaver. His son, William Pittman, was a Confederate soldier and died in prison. John was a blacksmith, gunsmith, and all-round mechanic.
PRINCE, Clarkson and William - These two brothers came from Philadelphia in 1834 to look after large tracts of land belonging to their father, Isaac Prince. They boarded at Henry Hull's tavern at Shady Spring and each married a daughter of Hull. Clarkson married Susan and William married Margaret. Clarkson's sons, Isaac and John, were Confederate soldiers. Isaac died of disease at Bowling Green, Ky., and William was in the Confederate service in the Commissary Department. At the Battle of Cloyd's Farm in Pulaski County, Va., May 9, 1864, he accompanied the Confederate soldiers to the field, and while acting as special messenger and courier his horse was shot out from under him. Immediately after the animal fell, James George and Burrell Williams utilized its body for breastworks and began firing across it. His son James was a Union soldier and his son William (Bub) was a Confederate soldier. James was living in Pittsburgh when the war broke out and he enlisted there. He served under General George Thomas. He once saw Gen. Thomas sitting on a log in the woods at the battle of Chickamauga, perfectly calm. Clarkson was a county clerk one term shortly after the war. William represented Raleigh and Fayette counties in the Virginia Legislature several terms and Raleigh in the West Virginia Legislature several terms. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1872.
RIFFE, Conrad - A native of Montgomery County, Va., he came to Breckinridge Creek in 1833 from his home in Wythe (now Pulaski County), Va. In a year or two he moved to Owlsburg in the Marshes, present Crouch farm, living there until 1844, when he moved to Soak Creek. His son, Owen S. Riffe, was a Confederate soldier throughout the entire four years of the war and was a sergeant in Captain Adams' company. Conrad was a soldier in the War of 1812.
ROGERS, Martin - A native of Pulaski County, Va., Rogers moved to the Pearis Bailey place at Prosperity about 1830 and was the community blacksmith.
SARRETT, John T. - Sarrett was a native of North Carolina but came to Raleigh County after living in Carroll County, Va. He settled on Main Marsh Fork at Arnett. His sons were E. P., Joseph A., John T. and Van S. Sarrett.
SCOTT, Moses - Scott moved to Little Beaver Creek about 1839 from Greenbrier County. James and Robert, sons of Moses, were prominent citizens. James served one term in the State Senate shortly after the Civil War. Robert married Angeline, daughter of Henry Hull. His sons, James and Moses, were in the Union Army the last few months of the war.
SMITH, Henry - Noted for his great physical strength, Smith settled at McCreery at the mouth of Piney River.
THOMPSON, Chapman - Thompson came to the mouth of Sycamore Creek from Monroe County in 1837 and married Aletha, the daughter of Gibson Jarrell. He was one of the few of Southern sentiment in his section.
TONEY, Jesse - A native of Boone County, Toney settled on Clear Fork in 1832, marrying Amanda, daughter of Gibson Jarrell. His son Robert was in the Confederate Army.
TYREE, Satterwhite - A Powhatan County, Va. native, Tyree lived on the old Williams place on Glade Creek, and was one of the earliest school teachers of that section. His sons, Richard, Edward, Granville and George, located on Paint Creek.
WARD, Robert and Thomas - Father and son from Greenbrier County, they settled on Little Beaver Creek. Later, Thomas Ward settled on Ward Mountain between Glen Morgan and Sullivan. His sons, Robert and John, were Confederate soldiers, the former dying on his return from prison after the close of the war after having reached the home of relatives near Crow.
WARDEN, Thomas - Warden was from Pulaski County, Va. but moved to Cranberry in 1833. His son Hughes was a Confederate soldier. He was missing and it was never known what became of him.
1840-1850
BEAVERS, William C. - Settling in the Marshes near Glen Daniel, he owned a fine farm and was from Montgomery County, Va. He sold it to Major William Ferguson in 1859 and moved to Missouri. Beavers was prominent in local affairs while living in the county.
CARPER, Joseph - A native of Monroe County, Carper moved to Paint Creek about 1848, later selling his farm to Archibald Sweeney in 1855 and moving to Grandview. His sons, A. J., George W., William D. and James P., were Confederate soldiers. He was a celebrated gunsmith and "The Carper Gun" was noted for its finish as well as its accuracy.
CLAY, Charles L. - Clay was from Wyoming County but was born in Giles County, Va. He moved to Breckinridge in 1848. His sons Henry and James were Union soldiers. Henry served three years, participating in the Grand Review in Washington, May 1865. James served four years and was in 29 battles.
COLE, James - The first settler in the original limits of the Town of Beckley (1842), Cole was Floyd County, Va. He lived at the intersection of the Kanawha and Guyandotte roads, approximately where the Memorial Building now stands. He was a blacksmith and his shop was located on the site of the City Hall. After the war he moved to Crab Orchard.
COMBS, William and John - Brothers from Carroll County, Va., they moved to Rock Creek.
COOK, James Wilson - The youngest son of Thomas Cook who was the oldest son of John Cook, the Wyoming settler, he came to Surveyor's Fork where the present town of Lester is located. He sold his farm to Champ Lester in 1855 and moved to Slab Fork near Hotchkiss. His sons, James Remley and Matthew Ellison Cook, were Confederate soldiers.
CURTIS, Claiborne - An able minister of the Christian Church, Curtis came to Raleigh from Pulaski County, Va. and settled on Cranberry Branch in 1847. He was the first minister of his denomination in that region.
DANIEL, Nehemiah - A native of Carroll County, Va., he moved to Marsh Fork near Saxon in 1843. He was killed by a falling tree while returning home on horseback on Feb. 29, 1852, at the Henderson farm.
DAVIS, Hugh - Davis came to Maple Meadow in 1840 from Pulaski County, Va. and was noted for his eccentric humor. Three sons, Henry, Alexander, and Houston were Confederate soldiers. Alexander died in prison.
FINK, William A. - A native of Greenbrier County, Fink came to Tommy's Creek near Odd. His son John was a Confederate soldier and died in service at White Sulphur Springs.
HAWLEY, Anderson M. - A native of Pulaski County, Va. he settled at Whitestick about 1847, later moving to the headwaters of Marsh Fork near the Cleveland school. He was a prominent teacher and served as justice of the peace.
HENSLEY, Stephen M. - A Logan Countian, he was a son of Mrs. Pyrrhus McGinnis by her first marriage and lived in the Marsh Fork region. He was a delegate from Raleigh County to the first Wheeling convention and a Union soldier. In 1865 he was appointed county clerk.
HOLLANDSWORTH, William O. - Hollandsworth owned the land where Cranberry is located, moving here from Wythe County, Va. in 1846.
HUNTER, William - A Boone County resident by way of Giles County, Va., he settled on Peach Tree in 1847 and married Amanda, daughter of Jacob Pettry. He is the grandfather of Circuit Clerk Van Hunter.
HURT, John - A native of Patrick County, Va., he moved to the Radford place top of Batoff Mountain. His sons John, Ira, and Alfred were Confederate soldiers.
LEWIS, Charles - Lewis came from Carroll County, Va., but was a native of Pittsylvania County, Va. He lived on Sand Lick, moving there about 1848. His sons William, Benjamin and Argelon were Confederate soldiers.
LINKOUS, Benjamin R. - Linkous, a native of Montgomery County, Va., moved to the Marshes about 1848. He was a lieutenant in Capt. Preston's Montgomery County company during the Mexican War. He was captain of Company C of the 36th Virginia Regiment during the Civil War and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the regiment. He taught school in the Marshes but located to Beckley shortly after the formation of the county. He was an accomplished surveyor and on order of the County Court surveyed the county shortly after its formation.
MANKIN, James - A native of Patrick County, Va., he settled in the Marshes in 1843. Among his sons were Jesse, Martin, James, and Simeon Mankin, prominent local citizens. His sons Benjamin and John were Confederate soldiers. Benjamin died in prison and John went to Fayette County after the war. James Mankin, Sr. was the grandfather of former Sheriff Ash Mankin.
MAXWELL, Matthews - A native of Tazewell County, Va., he came to the Marshes after living in Mercer County, later settling on Winding Gulf. Five sons, Whitley, Samuel, James, Robert, and John, were Union soldiers. John died in service. A. B. Maxwell of Beckley is the youngest child of Matthews.
McCLURE, John - McClure was an old Pittsburgh friend of General Alfred Beckley, at whose instance he came to this section from Allegheny County, Pa. He was a carpenter and mill wright. His son Abdel (Doc) McClure was a Confederate soldier.
McDONALD, Lewis - A native of Wyoming County, he established a store at Trap Hill in the Marshes in the latter 1840's. He was a prominent merchant and owned a splendid farm on Maple Meadow where he lived. His home, the finest in the county, was burned by Union soldiers during the war.
McGINNIS, Pyrrhus - McGinnis came from Logan to Soak Creek in 1843 and was the first permanent settler in that section. He was a native of Frederick County. His family migrated to Cabell County when he was 14. He married Mrs. Nancy Hensley, daughter of Capt. Henry Farley of Logan. He was an active land prospector and acquired a large landed estate in this county. He served many years as justice of the peace when the justices constituted the County Court, and he was long the presiding magistrate of the court. His sons were Achilles, James Hereford, Samuel, Gordon, and Thomas Jefferson. Achilles and T. J. were Union soldiers. Major James Hereford McGinnis was a distinguished lawyer, a great wit and story teller. Major McGinnis served several terms as prosecuting attorney and was one of the leading trial lawyers in this section of the state.
PEYTON, John Rowzee - A native of Montgomery County, Va., he settled in the Marshes in 1845. He was related to the Madison, Preston, Breckinridge, and Floyd families. A large man weighing over 300 pounds, he was well educated and an original and entertaining conversationalist of humorous temperament. He owned fine farms in Trap Hill District and engaged in farming, stock raising and trading. He entered the Confederate service in 1861 and was attached to a regiment of the Stonewall Brigade. He participated in the Battle of First Manassas and later was detailed for recruiting service in Southwest Virginia. Peyton was murdered from ambush in 1862 by some Confederate deserters on Bent Mountain in Roanoke County, Va. while on his way to Floyd County.
PRINCE, Edwin - A brother of Clarkson and William, he came from Philadelphia about 1844 and was Beckley's first merchant. His store stood at the northwest corner of Main and Kanawha streets. He accumulated a large fortune in the mercantile business and land speculation.
ROLES, Christopher C. - A native of Monroe County, he settled in the Marshes and lived on the Stansbury farm. He was a school teacher and surveyor. After the formation of the county he held many offices and was one of the early sheriffs. He was first lieutenant of Capt. Linkous' Company C of the 36th Virginia Regiment during the Civil War and when Linkous was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, he was appointed captain of the company.
ROLES, Joshua - A native of Monroe County, he settled on Piney at Fireco about 1845 and was a large landowner. His son Andrew was taken as a citizen prisoner to Camp Chase in Ohio, where he died. His son Charles was a Confederate soldier.
SMITH, Canada and Joseph - Brothers, they moved to Sand Branch and were sons of Jacob Smith who settled on New River at the mouth of Laurel Creek at Quinnimont about 1818. Canada lived on North Sand Branch where he owned large acreage. Joseph lived on South Sand Branch.
SPANGLER, Asa - A native of Floyd County, Va., Spangler moved to Little Whitestick near the Foote Dairy Farm. In a few years he moved to Piney between Fitzpatrick and Pemberton, where he built a grist mill which he operated until it was washed away in September 1879. Spangler's mill was the scene of one of the few engagements in this county during the Civil War.
STANLEY, Fleming - Stanley came to Whitestick from Franklin County, Va. and married Jane, daughter of John Bailey, in 1843. He was grandfather of W. A. Stanley, president of Beckley Water Company.
TRUMP, William - A grist mill and carding machine operator at the falls of Marsh Fork just below the Marshes, Trump was a native of Montgomery County, Va., coming to Raleigh in 1847. His sons Russell, John and Henry were Confederate soldiers. His oldest son, James, enlisted in Capt. Preston's Montgomery County company for the Mexican War and died in service.
VASS, Boswell - He settled on Maple Meadow and was from Monroe County. He was an ancient school teacher. Three sons, James L., R. R., and Matthew E. were Confederate soldiers. R. R. was a distinguished Baptist preacher. He was educated at Allegheny Institute at Blue Sulphur Springs, Greenbrier County, and Richmond College.
WATTS, Alexander - Grandfather of the late Dr. W. W. Watts of Beckley, he lived at the mouth of Piney and later on Clear Fork on Coal River.
WILLS, William - A native of Carroll County, Va., he settled near Arnett about 1840. His sons were Hiram, Joseph, and Jabez.
1850-1860
ADAMS, Stephen - Adams, an early Raleigh County lawyer, came to Beckley in 1856 from Campbell County, Va. He was admitted to the bar at the February term of court in 1856 and served as commonwealth's attorney for Raleigh and Fayette counties. He was captain of Company A, 30th Virginia Battalion, during the Civil War. Adams later returned to Lynchburg, Va. where he died.
ALLEN, John - A Pulaski County, Va. settler and a native of Carroll County, Va., Allen moved to the Clear Fork of Coal River about 1854.
BECKETT, John H. - A Floyd Countian, he settled at Big Whitestick near Davis Tunnel in 1850.
BIGGS, Andrew - Biggs moved to Paint Creek from Pulaski County. His sons, Reed, Jackson, Gordon, Edward, and Alonzy (Buck) were Confederate soldiers. The latter was killed at Fort Donelson.
BOWER, Martin - A Floyd Countian, Bower settled at Crab Orchard in 1859, moving to Mitchell's Ridge (Coal City) in the 1880's. Bower was related through marriage to Isaac Snuffer at Glen White and Peter Snuffer of Crab Orchard. Two of his older brothers, Phillip and Christopher, married sisters of Peter and Isaac in Franklin County. They remained in Floyd. Bower's father, Christopher, Sr., was killed in Floyd in the 1840's when he was crushed by a mill wheel.
BRAMMER, James A. - Flat Top Mountain was the home of Brammer. His farm was located where the Raleigh, Wythe, and Grayson Turnpike crossed the top of the mountain. He was from Patrick County. His residence was on the Mercer side, but he later moved to Odd. Brammer was a lieutenant in the Confederate Army and lost a leg at New Market, Va. on May 15, 1864.
BRAMMER, John - A Patrick Countian, he settled at the head of Piney in 1850. He was a Confederate soldier and died in service.
BRAMMER, Jonathan - Jonathan was also from Patrick and lived at Flat Top on the Mercer-Raleigh-Summers line. His son Anderson Brammer was a Confederate soldier and lost an arm in service.
CALFEE, James - A Confederate soldier, he settled at Crab Orchard in 1856, coming there from Pulaski County.
CALLAWAY, Garner - He settled on Dingess Branch near Glen Daniel in 1853 and was formerly from Monroe County. His son Thomas was a Confederate soldier. His father Joshua Callaway came with him to Dingess. Although then of venerable age, he was active in local affairs, dying in 1879 at 97. Garner was a large land owner.
CANNADY, Burwell - A Floyd Countian, he settled near Glen White in 1858. His son Jesse B. was a Confederate soldier.
CANNADY, Fleming - Brother of Burwell, he moved to Allen's Fork of Guyan in 1858. His son Green was a Confederate soldier.
CANTERBURY, David - A native of Monroe, he came to the head of Crab Orchard Creek near Glen White in 1853 by way of Wyoming County, his former home. Canterbury was a noted local auctioneer.
COOK, John - A native of Wyoming County, he first settled on Little Bluestone in Summers County, later moving to Mount Tabor in 1850. He was the oldest son of James Cook, who was the youngest son of John Cook, the pioneer Wyoming County settler. Two sons, Lewis and James, were Confederate soldiers. Lewis was killed at Fort Donelson Feb. 14, 1862, while replacing the flag on the wall of the fort. Harvey Cook of Beckley, former sheriff, is the youngest child of John Cook.
COOK, John D. - A native Wyoming Countian, he settled on Sand Lick and was a son of Thomas Cook, who was the oldest son of John Cook, pioneer Wyoming County settler. Three sons, Lewis, Thomas and Harrison were Confederate soldiers. Harrison Cook served several terms as assessor of the county after the war.
COVEY, Daniel B. - Covey was from Pulaski County, moving near Lester in 1857. His son Thomas was a Confederate soldier.
DUNBAR, W. S. - A Botetourt County, Va. native, he first lived in Monroe County, settling there about 1854. He then moved to Shady Spring, then near Clear Creek of Coal River. A Union soldier, he served until after the Battle of Cross Keys in the fall of 1862, when he was discharged because of ill health.
EWART, Col. John S. - A Pulaski Countian, he came to Glade Creek in 1855. He was a native of Livingston County, N.Y., was colonel of New York State troops in the campaign against the Indians and came to Pulaski in the 1840's. He was a school teacher, surveyor and contractor and built the first railroad bridge across New River at Radford, Va. He married Sarah Honaker in Pulaski County. She was a granddaughter of Samuel Pack of Glade Creek. He acquired a large land estate in Raleigh, settling at what is now known as the Mont Phillips place near the Beckley Water Company dam. A strong Confederate partisan, his home was burned during the Civil War. The late Harvey Ewart, prominent Hinton businessman and sheriff of Summers County, was his son.
FARLEY, John - A Summers Countian, he settled at Winding Gulf about 1850. His son William was a member of Capt. James Sweeney's Independent Confederate Company.
FERGUSON, William - Owner of one of the finest farms in the county, he came to the Marshes in 1859 from Roanoke County.
FITZPATRICK, Timothy - He was born in Ireland and settled on Turkey Branch near Crab Orchard about 1852. He was Confederate in sentiment.
FURROW, Charles - He lived on the mountain between Piney and Beaver at the late Albert Furrow place, building there in 1854. He was from Montgomery County. His sons Crockett and Floyd were Confederate soldiers. Floyd died in prison.
GARTEN, Allen - A native of Monroe, he moved into Richmond District in 1856 and was a large landowner, but during the Civil War was taken to Camp Chase Prison in Ohio as a citizen prisoner.
GEORGE, Mrs. James - She was from Montgomery County, but moved to Big Beaver Creek near Daniels in 1857. Three sons, Henry, E. D. (Frone) and James D. were Confederate soldiers. Frone was a noted fiddler in his younger days and was often the whole orchestra at the dances held in the neighborhood of the camp. Frone moved to Beckley about 1870 and operated a blacksmith shop on North Kanawha Street for more than 40 years. James D. George was a popular local auctioneer.
GILLASPIE, Henry L. - Gillaspie, a native of Allegheny County, Va., went to California in the 1870's. He came to Beckley in 1850 and was the first lawyer to locate here. He was a member of the secession convention and voted for secession. He was a circuit judge after the war and a large land holder.
GODBEY, William - A native of Pulaski County, he came to Cranberry about 1854. His son John N. was a Confederate soldier.
GRAY, John W. - Floyd County, Virginia. Lester, 1856. Bought a farm of 300 acres from Jesse O'Neal for which he paid $3,000. Part of the town of Lester is built on this farm. Two sons, William and Jonathan, were Confederate soldiers. Jonathan died in Fort Douglas Prison at Chicago.
GREEN, Whitson - Green settled at the head of Piney and was from Monroe County. He died while a prisoner at Camp Chase Prison in Ohio.
GRIFFITH, John T. - From Franklin County, he settled at the headwaters of Big Beaver Creek. Two sons, Charles and Jehu, were Confederate soldiers. Other sons were Isaac and Stanton.
HALE, Michael - A native of Franklin County, he first lived in Monroe County, later settling at the head of Piney in 1853. He was a Confederate soldier in Capt. William Thurmond's company, and served as justice of the peace and member of the County Court for many years.
HALSTEAD, Alexander - Halstead was born in Monroe County and moved to Piney near Whitby in 1850. Two sons, Henry and James, were Confederate soldiers. James died of disease in service.
HANNA, Joseph - A son-in-law of Moses Scott, he came from Greenbrier County to Beckley in 1851. He was a cabinetmaker.
HAWLEY, John B. - Hawley established a home in the Marshes in 1861, moving from Roanoke County. Five sons, Rufus, Terrell, Newton, Benjamin, and William were Confederate soldiers and Rufus and Terrell were killed in battle.
HENDERSON, Mrs. Mary - Widow of Capt. Samuel Henderson, she was born in Montgomery County, but moved to Spring Hill where Trap Hill High School is located. Her three sons, Edward, Eldridge, and Orville were Confederate soldiers, all dying in the service.
HENDERSON, Thomas - Born in Montgomery County, he was a soldier in the Mexican War in Capt. Preston's Montgomery County company. He moved to Marsh Fork just below the Marshes in 1856.
HENDRICKS, James - A Patrick Countian, he moved to the Marshes about 1850. His sons, Thomas and Rufus, were Confederate soldiers and early school teachers.
HOWERY, Jonathan - Born in Floyd County, he moved to Big Whitestick Creek in 1853. His son Jehu was a Confederate soldier.
HURT, Roland - A native of Patrick County, Hurt came to Montgomery County and then Beckley in 1855. A tailor, he lived on North Kanawha Street. His son, Ira D. Hurt, was a soldier in Company C, 36th Virginia Regiment. He died in service and is buried at "The Pines" near Shady Spring.
KIDD, Elisha - Kidd came from Franklin County and settled at Miller's Camp Branch at Old Eccles about 1855. He was a noted Methodist exhorter. His son Preston was a Union soldier and his son was a Confederate soldier.
LESTER, Champ - Lester came from Floyd County to Lester in 1855. Five sons, Samuel, Job, Perry, Pearis, and Daniel were Confederate soldiers. Samuel was one of the first county victims of the war, dying in the winter of 1861 of measles. Job was color bearer of the 36th Virginia Regiment. He was six feet, seven inches tall, and in battle or on parade, the 36th's colors could be seen above all others. Daniel was wounded and never fully recovered, dying a few years after the war.
MAYNOR, Joseph - A native of Franklin County, he settled on Paint Creek. His son, D. L. Maynor, was a Union soldier.
MEADOWS, Jeremiah - A son of Isaac Meadows who settled on the W. C. Richmond farm below Hinton, he moved to Winding Gulf about 1850. Six sons, Richard, Thomas, Jerry, Henderson, Rufus and Preston were Confederate soldiers. Jerry was killed at the last battle of Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864. Rufus was the grandfather of former Governor Clarence Meadows.
MILLER, Thomas - Miller settled near Glen White and was from Pulaski County. He was Confederate in sentiment.
McMILLAN, Nathaniel - A native of Patrick County, he settled near Trap Hill and was Union in sentiment. He married Mary, a daughter of James Hendricks.
PACK, Bartley - Pack came to Grandview from Monroe County in 1855 and moved to Shady Spring in 1886. He was a large landowner.
PETERS, George - A Monroe Countian, he lived in the Trap Hill neighborhood. His son, L. E. Peters, was a Confederate soldier and became a distinguished Baptist preacher after the war.
ROGERS, John T. - Rogers came to the Marshes from Pulaski County about 1855 and moved to Beckley about 1858. He married Martha, a daughter of James Hendricks. He taught school and clerked in stores and was a fine penman. A Union man, he was respected and liked by the Confederates. He served as deputy county clerk a few years after the war, but died in 1876. He was the father of the late T. J. Rogers of Table Rock.
SESLER, Jacob - A Montgomery Countian, he moved to Turkey Branch near Pemberton in 1857. He was a blacksmith by trade.
SMITH, Hulett - A native of Patrick County, he settled in the Marshes about 1857. He married Angeline, a daughter of Nathaniel McMillan. He was a Confederate soldier and father of Joe L. Smith of Beckley.
SMITH, Jacob - Smith came to Grandview from Quinnimont and his first deed there was dated 1853. He moved to Fitzpatrick on Piney in 1855. He came from the north side of Greenbrier River near Alderson to Quinnimont about 1818. By two marriages he was the father of 24 children. Among them were Canada and Joseph Smith. Jackson Smith, former clerk of the circuit and county courts, is a grandson of Jacob Smith.
SNUFFER, Isaac and Peter - These two brothers came to Raleigh County from the Bent Mountain section of Floyd and Franklin counties in 1857. Isaac lived just across the line in Franklin and Peter on the other side in Floyd. The last branch of the Snuffer family to move into Raleigh, they were distantly related to George Snuffer, Jr., who came into the county in 1829. Their father, John Snuffer, who died in Franklin County in 1851, was a first cousin of George. John and George were descendants of Hans Michael Schnauffer who migrated from Wittenburg in Germany to Berks County, Pa. in 1751. Isaac Snuffer was a Dunkard and served on the County Court at the start of the Civil War. He died in 1901 at Glen White, where he first settled. Peter died in 1893 at his original home at Crab Orchard. They were related to the Huffs, Rakes, Canadays, Poffs, Sowders and Bowers.
SWEENEY, Archibald - A native of Monroe County, he settled on Paint Creek in 1855. His son Wilson was a Confederate soldier and sheriff from 1881 to 1855.
TEEL, Mankin - Teel was from Henry County, Va., and settled on Little Whitestick. His son Chester was a Confederate soldier.
TENCH, Clark W. - He came from Franklin County to Cranberry in 1851.
THOMASSON, William - A native of Montgomery County, he owned what is known as the Lewis farm at Daniels, where C. C. Lewis lives. Two sons, Enfield D. and Joseph, were Confederate soldiers. Enfield was a second lieutenant of Company C, 36th Virginia Regiment.
THOMPSON, John H. - A native of Greenbrier County, he moved to Dry Creek in 1860 and was the only man in his neighborhood of Confederate sympathies.
TOLLEY, Calahill E. - He came from Giles County by way of his native Rockbridge County, Va., and settled on Piney at Whitby in March 1861. He was a large landowner and millwright.
TOLLEY, Christopher - A brother of Calahill, he moved to Piney at Bacontown in February 1861. He was a Confederate soldier and a carpenter.
TURNER, John B. - A native of Patrick County, he settled on Sand Lick in 1857. He was the father of Capt. William Turner.
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