The following was originally published in 1926. It is from the Chapman Collection located in The Beverly Family History Research Library in Beverly, WV. It chronicles the settlement of Mabie Community in Randolph County, WV. Submitted by ARFHS Member: John L. McCollam

Mabie is located in Randolph County, WV, nine miles east of Beverly, on the Staunton-Parkersburg Pike. The community is divided by the Pike, part being on one side and part on the other. The community, which is composed of about eighty families, was first called "Roaring Creek" from the name of the creek which flows through it. It was called "Fisher", being named after a resident of that name. Finally, in 1897, when W. H. Mabie erected his band mill, it was given the name of "Mabie" which it bears at the present time.

Pioneers

The first settlement was made in 1786 by the Westfalls, Woods, and the Rev. John Rowan families. The Rowans settled near the falls, below the place now known as Coalton. The Woods family settled about a mile west of Coalton, while the Westfalls settled west of Mabie on what is now known as the Phillips farm.

The only outlet for these pioneers was a trail known as the Rowan Westfall Trail which led across Rich Mountain to the Wilson Fort located on Wilson Creek (On Hill about Elkins Airport) where they obtained their groceries and had their milling done.

About ten years later came Ben Kittle, Moses Phillips and John Bevlin. They settled on the old State Road. Mr. Kittle located near what is now known as the Brady Mines. His place was known as the "Old Stage Stand." When the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike was constructed, Mr. Kittle moved to what was later known as the Hillary Farm and still kept the stage coach.

Later came the Cranes, Hillarys, and the Whitecottons. The Cranes settled where Eli C. Rowan lives: Whitecottons settled where H. F. Rowan lives: and the Hillarys bout(sic) the Ben Kittle farm.

These people came from Maryland and east of the Blue Ridge. They selected this as a location for their homes because of the fertility of the soil and because of the excellent hunting and fishing at this place, and because it seemed to be a healthful location in which to raise their families. Later, settlers came for the purpose of lumbering and mining. Trees as large as six or seven feet in diameter are known to have grown here in the early history of the community. Timber of this sort naturally attracted lumbermen. At that time the farmers did not know the value of timber, so they cut it down and burned it in order to clear their land to grow crops.

Roads

The old Indian Trail ran almost through the center of the community, across Roaring Creek near where H. J. Yeager now lives, through H. F. Rowan's farm, and across Rich Mountain. The first road through Mabie was known as the Old State Road. It was located about one-fourth of a mile from the present Staunton-Parkersburg Pike and connected Virginia and Buckhannon. The Staunton-Parkersburg Pike was constructed in 1840. Branch Roads which have been made later are the Cassity, Kelly, Ryan and Coalton Roads. A new state highway from Elkins to Buckhannon has also been constructed.

Public Works

The first "up and down" sawmill in this community was established by Mr. Hillary. Then a grist mill and a sawmill run by water were erected by J. A. Rowan. Later a steam power sawmill was built by Mr. Isaacson. In 1897, the Mabie, McClure Lumber Company set up a bandmill.

Mr. Kittle opened the first mine. Later the Hart mine on top of Rich Mountain was opened. From both these mines coal was hauled by wagon to Beverly. When the Hillary mine was first opened, four slabs of coal three feet thick were hewn out by W. J. Rowan, Bill Cutright, Moses and Randolph Phillips, and hauled by wagon to Webster Station, near Grafton and shipped to the World's Fair at Washington. These slabs were placed together, showing a vein twelve feet thick. This won the premium and showed what a marvelous vein of coal had been discovered in Roaring Creek District. This induced coal operators to invest.

The first mines that shipped coal was opened by William H. Green. This mine was located on the Kittle place and is now called the Brady mine which is being operated by A. Spates Brady of Elkins.

Churchs

The people coming to this community did not forget to worship God. They held services in their homes at first. Later services were held in a schoolhouse by the Rev. Warner, an M. P. Minister. Assisted by the Rev. Mr. Barnett from Harrison County. He held the first revival meeting and converted forty-five people. Later the Rev. Cyrus Kittle organized the M. E. Church and preached the first sermon. The Rev. Hanning Foggy then took charge of the work.

In 1870 a frame church was built near the present site of the Rowan School. In 1899 the church was moved and rebuilt. It was dedicated to the memory of Annie Rowan in 1900, during the pastorate of the Rev. Mr. White. It is now known as the Rowan M. E. Church.

Schools

Seven pupils were enrolled in the first school, which was taught by Moses Phillips in his home west of Mabie. Later school was held in a blacksmith shop on the Hillary Farm. Greased paper was used in the windows as a substitute for glass, and large hewn slabs of wood with peg legs and no backs were used as seats. The floor was of dirt. The parents hired the teacher, Julia Hart.

The first school house was built in the forks of the road on the Hillary Farm on land donated by Mr. Hillary. The first teacher was Bill Epperson. Now there are four schools in the community, three one-room buildings, and one two room building.

Post Office

The first post office was in the Hillary home with Allen Hillary as Postmaster. At that time no boxes were used, the mail being put on shelves. The name of this post office was "Roaring Creek." Later if was called "Fisher" and at the present time is known as "Mabie."

Blacksmith Shop

E. H. Rowan had the first blacksmith shop. It was located on his farm near the iron bridge across Roaring Creek.

Doctors

Dr. John Hillary was the first doctor in the community. He lived where J. A. Corley lived. Later he moved to near Buckhannon.

Stores

The first store in Mabie was owned by John Addison Kittle, who sold groceries, boots and dry goods. He later sold out to E. H. Rowan. Mabie now has six stores. (This was written in 1926.)

Items Of Interest

The first cooking stove was in the home of Mrs. Ben (Nancy) Kittle. She boarded the travelers in the days of the stage coach and had always used a fireplace for cooking purposes. To lighten her work, she installed a cook stove. It had six lids, four large ones and two small ones. For moving the lids, a bail like the bail of a syrup bucket was used. Each lid had one of these bails.

Mrs. Hillary owned the first sewing machine in the community. To display the wonderful work of this marvelous machine, she made black sun bonnets and stitched it with white thread. The first mowing machine was a Buckeye owned by Ira Kittle. It was an improvement over older methods, but even so, the horses had to go at a trot before it would cut.

The first patent churns were purchased from Barlowe Brothers by E. H. Rowan and Ira Kittle. They did not prove successful. The first cream separator, a De Laval, was owned by Eli C. Rowan. The first telephone was installed by M. King, and the first radio by N. E. Miller. The first automobile, a Ford, was purchased by G. C. Corley, in 1916.

Torches, candles, and grease lights were the first methods of lighting in the community.

In the early days, while the men hunted, fished, and cleared the land, the women spent their time spinning and weaving. Calico was fifty or seventy-five cents per yard-a prohibited price-so most of the material used was woven in the home. Even the men's suits were made in the home. A young man from Washington, Julian Hurdle, was visiting his aunt, Mrs. Hillary, was so impressed by the fine spinning and weaving of the pioneer women that he persuaded Mrs. E. H. Rowan to spin thread from the wool of a black sheep and weave it into material for a suit. He had a tailor make the suit for him. The people in the city thought it was marvelous because the material was so fine.

The stockings used by the early settlers was hand-knit. A shoe maker from Beverly made the best shoes for the family, but the supply of everyday shoes were made by the men of the family.

In pioneer days, the woods abounded with deer, bears, and other animals. Mrs. J. A. Corley relates an interesting story about the killing of a deer by herself and her brother, Bailey Rowan. The deer, which had been shot in the leg, was chased by the hounds into the stream near the home of E. H. Rowan. Bailey, aged fourteen years, jumped astride the deer and held its head under water. His sister Annie, (Mrs. Corley) aged sixteen, ran with the butcher knife and the boy cut the throat of the deer while his sister held the creature's horns. They took the skin to Beverly and sold the skin for one dollar. The hams sold for six dollars. Mrs. Corley still has a small bone of the deer to remind her of this incident.

E. H. Rowan one time killed a deer with a rock, near the bridge. Ira Kittle pulled a bear backwards out of a hollow log and killed it.

Rattlesnakes are still occasionally found in the woods but are not as numerous as they once were. There were four large dens near the community and one man killed thirty-six in one day. Andrew Kittle, while working in the woods one day, sat on a slab of wood to eat his lunch. Under the slab a large rattlesnake was coiled, but it was held so tightly it was unable to rattle. When Mr. Kittle finished his lunch and arose, the snake made known its presence by rattling and Mr. Kittle killed it.

The timber was so dense in the early days that it was not unusual for children to become lost. While hunting cows on day, Mr. Ned King became lost and wandered in the woods for two days. She was finally found by James Phillips. Jon Lewis was also lost while hunting cows. He was found after a day and a night.

Mr. Hillary and Mr. Crane were the only slaveholders in this community. Mr. Hillary was a very wealthy man and liked to tell people about it. A story is told that one time an assessor came to the home and stayed all night. The host not knowing the official capacity of his guest. Mr. Hillary told him all about his twenty-five slaves, hundred of acres of land, bonds and money. To finish the story, he lit a cigar with a five dollar bill. When the assessor went to assess him, he was dumfounded and wished he had not boasted so freely. He did not keep his slaves long for other settlers did not believe in slavery.

Individuals Who Have Made History Here And There

Steve Lewis, Paul Scott, and Marshall Phillips are ministers from this community. Samuel Crane has been prosecuting attorney of Randolph County and has been in the legislature. Parry Lewis has been county surveyor of Gilmer County. He formerly taught school. Wellington Rowan, a school teacher from Mabie, was also a member of the legislature. William King is now a wealthy real estate man in Pittsburg. Miss Kathleen King, a former teacher, is now in the fruit business in Florida. Walter King is a plumber in Buckhannon. Lillian King Armentrout, a teacher, is now in Pittsburg.

The teachers from this community are Anna King Fallon, Katherine Hart Frame, Emma Rowan Pritt, Sadie Ryan Van Gilder, Pearl Ryan Pennington, Dorinda Pingley Zickafoose, Alma Coontz Ryan, Vernie Hart Ward, and Nelson Pingley. Frank Madden was county superintendent of schools and also a government clerk in Washington. Thomas, James, Martin/Peter and William Madden were all schoolteachers.

Community Activities

The Epworth League was organized in 1913. Following are the First and present officers:

The Knights of Pythias was organized in 1917. The Farm Woman's Club was organized by Mrs. Ray Ward and Mrs. Gilbert Scott in July 1924. The first and present officers are:

The first Aurora Four-H Club was organized in 1925. The first and present officers are as follows:

The Allegheny Regional Family History Society
Post Office Box 1804
Elkins, West Virginia, 26241
arhfs@yahoo.com

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