Pocahontas County History Preservation, Digitization, Community

Moses Moore, p. 108, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

Moses Moore, the progenitor of the largest relationship of the name in the county, came from what is now Timber Ridge, Rockbridge County, Virginia. About 1760 he was married to a Miss Elliot, a member of another Timber Ridge family. Their children were John born January 29, I7e2; James, born October 5, 1763: Margaret, born March 29, 1765; Moses, Jr., born February 8, 1769; Hannah, born June 6, 1771; Robert, born May 27, 1772; Phebe, born February 13, 1774; William, born September 18, 1784.

At the time of the Drennan raid, when James Baker and the Bridger boys were killed, Moses Moore was living on Swago, in sight of what is now the McClintic homestead. Phebe, his youngest daughter, remembered how the family refugeed to the fort at Mill Point, and while the Drenanns and Moores and others were passing around the end of the mountain they heard the firing at the Bridger Notch, when the boys were killed.

Levi Moore, p. 284, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

One hundred years ago, one of the most widely known citizens in the region now embraced by Pocahontas and Bath counties, was Levi Moore, Senior, a native of Wales. He was the pioneer of Frost, and came to there some time previous to the Revolution, and was among the first to make a permanent settlement. The lands he settled now owned by the Gibsons, Sharps and others. His wife was Susannah Crist and he first settled in Pennsylvania, where he lived until his family, two sons and two daughters were born and the older ones nearly grown.

Hannah Moore was married to Robert Gay, the ancestor of the Gay relationship, so frequently alluded to in these papers. From Mrs John Simmons and Mrs Mary Jane Moore we learn the following particulars:

Sally Moore became Mrs John Smith, one of the first permanent settlers of the Edray district, near the head of Stony Creek, of whom special mention is made.

George Moore was at the notable wedding when Jacob Slaven and Miss Eleanor Lockridge were married near Driscol. The tradition is that a practical joke was played by one James Brindley, at which the horse took fright, ran off, and the rider's head struck a projecting fence stake and was instantly killed. George Moore lived a while on the land now held by Abram:n Sharp, but sold to John Sharp and went to Kentucky. He was back on a visit when his sudden death occurred as just mentioned.

Joseph Moore, p. 355, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

Joseph Moore, late of Anthonys Creek, was one of the most widely known citizens of our county in his day. His parents were William Moore and Margaret, his wife. It is believed they came from Rockbridge County about 1780. No known relationship is claimed with other branches of the Moores. They opened up a home on the knoll just south of Preston Harper's, on Knapps Creek, where a rivulet crosses the road. Their house was just below the present road at that point. It was here they lived and died. They were buried on the east side of the creek, on the terrace south of the tenant house now standing there. Persons now living have seen their graves.

These pioneers were the parents of two sons and two daughters: Joseph, John, Mary (Polly), and a daughter whose name seems to be lost to memory. John Moore went to Kentucky. Mary was the wife of Colonel John Baxter, who was the first Colonel of the 127th Regiment, and was very prominent in the organization of the county. Joseph Moore was a soldier in the war of 1812. During his service he met and married Hannah Cady, in East Virginia. She was a native of Connecticut, and was a school teacher, and is spoken of by the older people as a sprightly person. Soon after his return, Joseph Moore settled on the homestead, building his house between Goelet's residence and the barn. He finally moved to Anthonys Creek.

John Moore, p. 289, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)
"Pennsylvania" John Moore is represented by a worthy posterity, and deserves special mention as one of the Pocahontas Pioneers. He was among the immigrants from Pennsylvania, and as there were several John Moores, the soubriquet "Pennsylvania" was and is attached to his name. Upon his marriage with Margaret Moore, daughter of Moses Moore, scout, hunter, and pioneer, John Moore settled and opened up the place now occupied by David Moore, near Mount Zion Church, in the Hills. Their family consisted of three sons and eight daughters.

Martha Moore became Mrs John Collins, and lived in Upshur County, West Virginia.
Jennie lived to be grown and died of cancerous affection. Nancy Moore was married to Peter Bussard. and they had their home near Glade Hill.

Hannah Moore married Martin Dilley, and lived where Mrs Martha Dilley now resides.

Phoebe Moore became Mrs Samuel McCarty, and lived where Peter McCarty now lives. Elizabeth Moore was married to Daniel McCarty, a soldier of the War of 1812, and lived where Sheldon Moore now dwells.

Margaret Moore married Eli Bussard, and lived where their son, Armenius Bussard, now lives.

Rebecca Moore was married to John Sharp, from near Frost, and lived on the place now occupied by Joseph Moore, near the Bussard neighborhood.

Isaac Moore, p. 467, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

One of the sacred duties resting on the living is to preserve memories of worthy citizens now deceased, and heed the lessons illustrated, that may stimulate and encourage useful endeavors to have similar aims in our own lives.

"For as the light
Not only serves to show but render us
Mutually profitable; so our lives,
In acts exemplary, not only win
Ourselves good names, but do to others give
Matter for virtuous deeds by which we live."

The aim of this article is to perform such a service with reference to Squire Isaac Moore, whose name appears in the first records of our county, and was associated with its history for forty years.

He was born March 2, 1800, at the "Bridger place" four or five miles east of Edray. He grew up familiar with many of the privations of pioneer life, but was happily exempt from the risks and perils that were such features of the times a few years previously from Indian raids.

The surroundings of his home were picturesque: the river with its rapid waters of crystal purity, the overhanging hills that bordered the wooded valley where the log home stood, made a scene that would attract notice anywhere. It was only one place among hundreds to be found in a vast expansive region to which Homer's famous line about Ithaca would apply:

"A rough wild nurse land, whose crops were men."

Aaron Moore, p. 278, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

Aaron Moore, one of the older sons of Moses Moore the pioneer, hunter, and scout, after his marriage with Catherine Johnson, daughter of John Johnson, first lived near Frost; but the greater part of his life he dwelt on the west bank of the Greenbrier, four miles above Marlinton, where he had settled in the woods.

Sampson L. Mathews, p. 497, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

Among the citizens of prominence in the early his tory of Pocahontas County was Sampson Lockhart Mathews, the first county surveyor. • His grandfather was Sampson Mathews, one of the early residents of Staunton, whose wife was a Miss Lockhart, hence the name borne, by members of the family connexion. She had a sister married to a Mr Nelson, and another married to a Mr Clark. Thus the Montgomerys and the Mathews became related.

The subject of this sketch" was the second son of Sampson Mathews, Junior, and Mary Warwick, daughter of Jacob and Mary Warwick, of Clover Lick. Early in life he manifested an intense desire for an education, and his wishes were gratified. Much of the time he passed in studies he was under the care of Dr John McElhenny, who established and for so many years conducted the renowned Lewisburg Academy.

Upon reaching his majority in 1821, young Mathews and his father, who had become a widower, moved to the farm on Swago now owned by Mrs Mary McClintic, his only daughter. Father and son lived in this manner for several years.

In 1825 young Mathews was married to Miss Nancy Edgar, daughter of Thomas Edgar and Ann Matthews, whose farm afterwards became the site now occupied by the town of Ronceverte. Mrs Edgar was the daughter of Archie Mathews, whose residence is now known as the Alexander farm, three miles from Lewisburg.

Lanty Lockridge, p. 207, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

One of the most widely known of Pocahontas families in former years was that of the ancestor of the Lockridge relationship, at Driscol, four miles east of Huntersville. It was a place of resort for visiting lawyers to and from Huntersville on public occasions. Pleasant mention is made of the kind treatment received and of the nice and bountiful table comforts enjoyed in the memoir of the late Howe Peyton, and in some published reminiscences of George May so, of the Warm Springs. Lancelot (Lanty) Lockridge, the progenitor of the name in our county, came from the Lower Bull Pasture, in Highland county, about four miles up the river from Williamsville, Bath county. Mrs Lockridge was Elizabeth Benson, of the same vicinity. Some of her near relatives migrated to Ohio, from whom Joseph Benson Foraker traces his name and ancestry, and who is now in the Senate of the United States, colleague of M. A. Ilanna, from Ohio.

Mr and Mrs Lockridge were of pure Scotch-Irish descent. Early in the century they settled on Knapp's Creek and built up a prosperous home and reared a large family, four sons and five daughters: Andrew, Matthias, Lanty, James T., Elizabeth, Nelly, Harriet, Rebecca and Martha.

Peter Lightner, p. 180, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

Forty or fifty years ago, one of the most generally known citizens of our county was Peter Lightner, on Knapps Creek. He was tall in person, active in his movements, always in a good humor, and one of the most expert horsemen of his times, and perhaps realized as much ready change swapping horses as any other of his citizen contemporaries. He could come so near making a new and young horse of an old dilapidated framework of an animal as was possible for anyone to do who has ever made a business of dealing in horse-flesh.

Near the close of the last century, he settled on Knapps Creek, on land purchased from James Poage, who emigrated to Kentucky. Mr Poage had built a mill which Mr Lightner improved upon, and for years accommodated a wide circle of customers, who had gotten tired of hominy and hominy meal pounded in a goblet-shaped block. The pestle by which the trituration was done was usually a piece of wood like a handspike, with an iron wedge inserted in one end, and fastened by an iron band to keep it from splitting. This mill was a precious and valuable convenience, and brought comfort to many homes, and some of the most toothsome bread ever eaten in our county was made of meal from Lightner''s mill. Some families had hand-mills, but they were about as hard to operate as the hominy block, or mortar with the iron-bound pestle.

Richard Hudson, p.481, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

The Hudson family trace their ancestry to Richard Hudson, whose wife was Elizabeth Redden. They came from Augusta County early in the century, and settled in the woods on the head waters of Sitlingtons Creek, on lands now held by their grandsons, Warwick B. and John L. Hudson. This land was purchased from a Mr Armstrong. A small opening had been made by one Posten previously. Mr and Mrs Hudson were the parents of seven daughters and three sons.

Sally and Polly Hudson went to Ohio and married and settled in that State. Keziah Hudson, of whom the writer has no definite information, more than that she was named after one of Job's daughters.

Rachel Hudson married Dysard and lived in Barbour County.

Matilda married Thomas Humphries and lived in Barbour County.

Naomi became Mrs Samuel Mathews, and lived in Randolph County. M. G. Mathews, deceased, a teacher and superintendent of Pocahontas schools, Charles Mathews and Captain J. W. Mathews, of Alvon, West Virginia, are her sons.

Nancy Hudson first married John Seybert, of Highland County. Her second marriage was with Andrew Lockridge, of Bath County.

Thomas Hudson went to Missouri, and married and settled there.

Madison Hudson went to Maryland in his youth, and married and reared a large family. He prospered in business, and was a citizen of prominence in neighborhood and county affairs.