Notes from The Central Methodist, Christian Observer, The Central Methodist, and The Pittsburgh Conference Journal.

Submitted by Ted Wolfe

Notes from The Central Methodist (Catlettsburg, KY Methodist Episcopal, South publication) referring to Lewis and Upshur Cos., WV.

11-23-1872 p. 8 Henry McCauley, born Pendleton Co. in 1790 and moved early in life to Collins Settlement in Lewis Co., VA.  He left there at his wife's death in 1868 and moved to Lewis Co., KY to live with his sons Joseph McCauley and Lysander McCauley, Esq.  He died 28 AUG 1872.

12-7-1875 p. 3 William L. Anderson was born in Hanover Co., VA on 4 DEC 1792 and died in Upshur Co on 1 NOV 1874.  He served 9 months in the War of 1812 and moved to Upshur Co. before 1867.

12-7- 1875 p. 3 Jonathon Hall was born 8 NOV 1797 and died 30 SEP 1875.  He converted to Methodism after a camp meeting at Hackers Creek about 1822 or 1823.

5-5-1877 p. 3 David Dyer Dix, the son of James and Rachel Dix, was born 7 JUL 1848 near [Buckhannon], Upshur Co., WV.  He was a private in the Confederate Army.  In 1874 he was elected to the WV Legislature from Nicholas, Clay and Webster Cos.  He went to Washington, DC for the inaugural but became ill from Typhoid and died 22 Mar 1877

5-26-1877 p. 3 Abraham Rager Hall was born near the present town of Buckhannon in Lewis Co., VA on 18 Jan 1820.  Soon after that, his father moved the family to Big Skin Creek.  He had 6 brothers and 4 sisters. Two died young, and all the rest married except Abraham.  His father died OCT 1875 and in OCT 1876 Abraham and his mother moved in with a sister, Mrs. Emmet J. O'Brien on Polk Creek, Lewis Co. On 7 FEB 1877.  Abraham was killed by a limb falling from a tree he and his nephew were chopping down.

4-26-1879 p. 3 Elizabeth Summers, 83 years old, died at her son's residence on Stone Cole. Lewis Co.. WV on 25 MAR 1879.

10-3-1891 p. 13 Mimin Lorentz, son of Jacob and Rebecca Lorentz was born in Lewis Co., VA 29 DEC 1823, and died in [Buckhannon], WV on 16 JUL 1891.  He was of German descent, his father was a native of Lancaster Co., PA. his mother, a Stalnaker, was a native of Randolph Co., WV.  He married first Miss Fannie White of Buckhannon on 28 DEC 1848. She died in Alleghany Springs, VA on 16 FEB 1864, leaving 5 children, 3 of whom still survive.  He married second Miss Mary Boggess and had 3 children, still living.  He died of smoker's cancer after long medical treatment and an operation in Baltimore.

These newspapers are on microfilm at the WVU Library.  Ted Wolfe

Notes from The Central Methodist (Catlettsburg, KY Methodist Episcopal, South publication) referring to Barbour Co., WV.

12-22-1874 p. 2 Elizabeth Johnson, the daughter of John Hoffman, was born in Loudon Co., VA in 1793 and moved to Barbour (then Randolph) Co., WV in the 21st year of her age.  Three years later she married Robert Johnson and moved to Gilmer (then Lewis) Co., near where Glenville now is.  Her husband died in 1828, leaving her with 7 children, all boys, the oldest 10 years old.  They moved 28 miles down the river a few years later.  Two of her sons died before her.  She died 14 NOV 1874 at her son Robert Johnson's, in Calhoun Co.

1-12-1875 p. 7 Leah Wilson was born 24 APR 1804 in Harrison Co., the daughter of John Thomas She married Wesley Wilson in 1823 and settled near Boothsville, until 1846 when they moved to Philippi.  She died 1 DEC 1874. She had 11 children, 2 of them died in infancy, the rest and her husband survived.

3-9-1875 p. 3 Wesley Wilson was born in [Monongalia] Co. on 1 JAN 1803. He married Leah Thomas in 1822 or 1823, and settled near Boothsville.  They later moved to a farm 3 miles south of Philippi.  He was blind for 12 years prior to his death.  His wife and 2 sons preceded him in death.  Reported by his son, Thos. N. Wilson.

1-28-1877 p. 6 William Washington Counts, the son of Isaac and Mary Counts, was born 19 JUN 1854, and died 27 AUG 1877.  He suffered with consumption for nearly 2 years.  His father, mother, brothers and sister, and little twin brother and sister survive.

4-26-1879 p. 3 Phoebe E. Eurit, the wife of James D. Eurit, was born 25 AUG 1824 and died 26 FEB 1879.  She was the daughter of Jacob and Phebe Burner of Burnersville WV.  She died of consumption and was survived by 2 sons and 2 daughters.

1-17-1880 p. 8 Rev. A. P. Sturm was to start a protracted meeting at Lambert's Chapel "where Satan has been among the flock causing law suits, etc. for a year or two past.”

2-7-1885 p. 5 Dr. E. Parsons of Meadowville died 21 DEC [1884].

8-1-1885 p. 10 Dr. Edwin Parsons was born 29 MAY 1825 and died 21 JAN 1885.  A wife and 6 children survived him at Meadowville.  (This death date disagrees with the previous note on 7 FEB 1885.)

9-12-1891 p. 13 Fannie Johnson, nee Link, was born in Augusta Co., VA 2 NOV 1843 and died 25 AUG 1891 (47 yr, 9 mo. 23 d.).  She married Col. I. V. Johnson in 1874 and moved to Philippi.  Her husband and 3 children survive.

These newspapers are on microfilm at the WW Library.  Ted Wolfe

Notes from The Christian Observer and its successor, The Christian Advocate (Catlettsburg, KY Methodist Episcopal, South publications).

The Christian Observer

9-30-1871 p. 2 Phoebe Jane Grose was born 7 MAY 1838 and died 5 JUL 1871. She was born in Nicholas Co., VA, the daughter of William and Margaret Whitman.  She married William Grose on 6 OCT 1871.  She had no children, but did have step-children.

3-2-1872 p. 2 Ann Grose was born an Oliver in Hanover Co., VA on 1 JAN 1793.  She married Samuel Grose of Bath Co., VA on 7 SEP 1815 and they moved to Nicholas Co. in March of 1846.  She died 22 DEC 1871, leaving a husband, 2 sons and a daughter, Mrs. Samuel Black, near Summersville.

The Central Methodist

5-18-1875 p. 7 Rev. John W. Taylor was born and raised in Pocahontas Co.  His father died when he was 17 days old.  He married Lucie Jacobs of Bridgewater, Rockingham Co., VA 2 and 1/2 years ago and they had a son, Summers.  He died 29 MAR 1875.  He preached at Walkersville, and was buried at Long Point.

8-14-1880 p. 3 Jonathon Hyre, born in Lewis (now Upshur) Co. on 17 MAR 1812, moved to Jackson Co. in 1815 and died 12 JUL 1880.

12-25-1886 p. 7 Louisa Ralston was born 17 SEP 1854, the daughter of Eli and Nancy Hamilton of Bath C0., VA.  She married Johnnie Ralston and had 5 children, 1 recently deceased.  Her 2 oldest children were Robbie and Gillie

8-20-1887 p. 11 Rev. John S. Pullin was born in Bath Co., VA on 27 MAR 1810, the son of Thomas and Nancy Pullin.  They were of Irish descent.  He died in Braxton Co. on 24 JAN 1867? [1887]  He married Nancy Prey and they had 9 children, 3 of whom preceded him in death.  His wife died 22 MAY 1887.  Five sons and 1 daughter survive.  He preached in Braxton, Jacksonville, Glenville, Greene, and Randolph Circuits.  He and his wife are buried in a private graveyard in Braxton Co.

12-12-1891 p. 18 George R Hickman was born in Bath Co., VA on 28 OCT 1839. He died in Clay Co., WV on 1 NOV 1819.  He moved to Nicholas Co, early in life with his parents and married Martha C. Morrison on 9 APR 1865. He had 6 children, 4 sons and 2 daughters, one of which preceded him in death.

12-26-1891 p. 6 Warwick Briscoe was born in Bath (now Highland) Co, VA on 8 MAY 1819, the fifth son of Isaac and Priscilla Briscoe.  He came to Kanawha Co., Va in 1839 and taught school.  He married Sarah Blakeney, the daughter of Capt. G. A. Blakeney in 1842.  He became a Methodist exhorter in 1843 and a preacher at Ripley July 1846.  He was living in Charleston in 1891. ( This autobiographical article also contained a narrative of his preaching posts from 1846 to 1887.)

These newspapers are on microfilm at the WVU Library. Ted Wolfe

Notes from THE PITTSBURGH CONFERENCE JOURNAL

Vol. 1, No. 19, page 75. June 7, 1834 Henry Waldeck died on West Fork, Lewis Co., Va. on 2 April 1834, supposed to be about 87 years old.  He had been a Hessian soldier, serving in many battles uninjured and was captured when Cornwallis surrendered.  He married at Fredericktown after the war and moved to the South Branch near Moorefield for about 18 or 20 years, and then moved to Lewis Co.

Vol. 1, No. 22, page 87. 28 June 1834 Samuel Hall, Esq. was born in Pendleton Co., VA. on 30 Sept 1779 and moved to Harrison Co., Va. in 1805 where he lived until his death 18 April 1834.  He left a wife and four children.

Vol. 1, No. 50, page 200. 8 Jan. 1835 David Minear, born in Pennsylvania, not far from Philadelphia on 31st of July, 1755.  His father was killed by Indians on the river Cheat in Randolph Co., Va. in 1784.  David married Katharine Sailor in 1787.  He entertained and supported Methodist ministers, who "preached under his roof'.  He suffered for many months from a cancer on the lip and died 20 Nov. 1834, leaving 8 children to mourn his loss. Randolph Co., Va. Samuel Kyle

Vol. 1, No. 51, page 203. 15 Jan. 1835 Mrs. Catherine Carmack, the consort of Evan Carmack, died 18 Dec. 1834 in Weston, Lewis Co., Va., aged 28 years, 7 months and 9 days.  She was born in Frederick, Co., Md. on 9 May 1806.  Her parents were Lutheran.  She married Evan Carmack in the fall of 1820.  Her husband and five children survive.

Vol. 2, No.1, page 3. 29 Jan 1835 Philip Kirk was born in Monongalia Co., Va. on 28 Nov. 1800 and was crushed by a tree on 10 Jan 1835 while working for Mr. Crolly on a road in Monongalia Co. near the Tygart Valley River.

Vol. 2, No. 12, page 47. 16 Apr. 1835 Catharine Minear was born in Randolph Co., Va. on 22 Apr. 1800.  A camp meeting she attended on Jackson's River in Pocahontas Co. when she was 12 to 15 years old had a great effect on her, although she didn't become a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church until 1822 or 1823.  She married Enoch Minear on 1 Jan. 1827.  She was ill six months before she died on 12 Feb. 1835.  Besides an infant that was five weeks and five days old she left a husband and three children to mourn her loss.  Morgantown, April 3, 1835 Samuel Kyle

Vol. 2, No. 30, page 121. 20 Aug. 1835 Mrs. Elizabeth Holt was born on 14 Mar. 1807 in Beaver, Pa. and died on 29 July 1835 in Weston, Va.  She married Rev.  Jonathon Holt on 30 July 1827.  Her husband, two daughters and a son survive.

Vol. 2, No. 55, page 175. 26 Nov. 1835 Abigail Weaver died in Harrison Co., Va. on 7 Aug. 1835.

Vol. 4, No. 12, page 51. 20 April 1837 Mrs. Elizabeth Rhorabaugh died on 27th ultimo in her 67th year at her house in Lewis Co., Va.  She was brought up in Hardy Co., Va., married Abraham Rhorabaugh and settled on the Buckhannon.

Vol. 5, No. 37, page 147. 4 Oct. 1838 Benjamin Scott died at his residence on 8 Aug. 1838.  He was born in Hardy Co., Va., where he resided until 1812.  He was raised by and with Dunkers.  He came to Randolph Co, in 1812 and married Jane, the daughter of Wm. and Mary Currence.  He soon became a Methodist.  He suffered three years with white swelling and was confined to bed for 6 months.  He was buried near his house under two apple trees His widow and 9 children survive him.  There is also mention of a son who was seriously ill, but after prayer by Benjamin and others, he recovered. reported by Gideon Martin

Vol. 6, No. 27, page 108. 25 Jul 1839 Darhes Holbert, the consort of William Holbert and daughter of Benjamin and Ann Riddle, died on 17 Apr. 1839.  She was 25 years old and had three small children.  Reported by David Hess, Lower Kenaway, Lewis Co. Va. (note - Darhes was the spelling the newspaper gave)

Notes from the Pittsburgh Conference Journal, which is available on microfilm at West Virginia Wesleyan College.  Ted Wolfe July 19, 1997.


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