Pocahontas County History Preservation, Digitization, Community

John Gay, p.511, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

Hon. John Gay, but lately of Marlinton, a citizen of marked prominence in the affairs of our county for forty or fifty years, deserves special mention in local annals. H e was born May 26, 1804, on the place now occupied by his son, Levi Gay. His parents were Robert Gay and Hannah Moore, who were among the pioneers of our county as early as 1770.

John Gay was married in Huntersville June 24, 1834, to Margaret B. Clark. She was born in Cecil County, Maryland, June 19, 1810. The whole of their married life was spent on the home farm. Their family consisted of eight children, four sons and four daughters.

Samuel M. Gay lives near Edray, at the head of the Indian Draft, a prosperous citizen. He was a Confederate soldier attached to the 31st Virginia Infantry, one of the most distinguished regiments in Lee's army. He was wounded at the battle of Strasbourg, Virginia.

Levi Gay resides on the home place near Marlinton, and is a widely known citizen. He was also a Confederate soldier in the 31st Infantry, and was wounded at Spottsylvania Courthouse.

Edward lives with his brother Levi. James died in infancy not more than a year old. Hannah died in 1862, a grown young lady. Harriet died in 1861. Susan first married Adam Young. Her sons John Young and Adam Young are citizens of Pocahontas. Upon her second marriage she became Mrs D. A. Peck, and resides on Hills Creek.

Thomas Galford, p. 269, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

So far as now known Thomas Galford, Senior, was the original ancestor of the Pocahontas Galfords. It is believed he came from the Middle Valley and was of Scotch descent. Thomas Galford lived on the place now held by F. Patterson and Charles Nottingham oh Glade Hill, and it is the opinion of most persons that he came there just previous to the Revolution. Thomas Galford had a brother, John, of whom but little is now known. There was a sister, Jennie, who became Mrs Ohio Gum and lived at the head of Crab Bottom, Highland County. There was another sister whose name cannot now be recalled who became Mrs John Chestnut, on Little Back Creek, where she has numerous descendants.

Thomas Galford married Naomi Slaven, an aunt of Newlen Slaven, late of Meadow Dale, and they were the parents of two sons, John, and Thomas, Junior; and a daughter, Elizabeth.

John Galford married Jennie McLaughlin, lived on the home place, finally went to Lewis County and settled near Walkersville. There were five sons and one daughter: Allen, John, William, James. Thomas and Naomi.

Naomi Galford died a young woman in Lewis County.

John Galford, Junior, married Frederika Hillery and lived at Huntersville where he conducted a flourishing tannery. Two sons and one daughter, Harrison, George, and Mary, who is now Mary V. Rodgers, near Buckeye, are their children.

Abram Duffield, p. 451, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

Walter Drinnon, p.459, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

Among the pioneer settlers of the Edray district the Drinnons are believed to have been among the very first. From what the venerable James McCollam, a grandson of Lawrence Drinnon, remembers there were three brothers, Charles, Lawrence, and Thomas, sons of Walter Drinnon from Ireland. It is more than probable they came here about the time John McNeel and the Kinnison brothers had made their settlement in the Levels, for they came from the same county and neighborhood.

Lawrence Drinnon settled on the Greenbrier above the mouth of Stony Creek. His wife was a member of the Day family, referred to in the Kinnison paper, but her name is not remembered. Their children were James, Charles, John, Susan, and Sally.

Susan married John Boggs, and lived for years in the Meadows of Greenbrier. Mr Boggs was engaged for a long time with Charles McClung, a noted Greenbrier grazier and stock dealer, and prospered in business. From Greenbrier he went to Putnam County, entered 16,000 acres of land, and founded the notable Boggs settlement by situating his sons and daughters around him.

Sally Drinnon became Mrs William McCollam, and lived on Bucks Mountain.

Martin Dilley, p. 522, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

Among the well known citizens of our county from the twenties to the forties was Martin Dilley. It is believed he was from Maryland and of Quaker descent. His wife was Hannah Moore, daughter of Pennsylvania John Moore, the pioneer. He located near Dilleys Mill where his son the late Andrew Dilley lived. Here he settled in the virgin forest and rescued from the wilderness quite a large estate and accumulated an ample competency. His home was known far and near where a bountiful hospitality was dispensed, a cordial welcome awaited friends and strangers alike. In reference to his family the following particulars have been gleaned from the reminiscences of some of his surviving friends.

His son John Dilley married Isabel (Ibbie) Dilley, daughter of Henry Dilley, a brother of Martin. John Dilley's daughter Margaret married Samuel Sutton near Greenbank, where she now resides. Jeremiah Dilley, son of John, married Margaret McCarty, daughter of Daniel McCarty. Clayton Dilley married Mary Moore, daughter of James Moore. Clark Dilley a Union soldier, married Margaret Arbogast, daughter of Rev Henry Arbogast, who was slain during the war between Frost and Glade Hill.

Henry Dilley, p. 299, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

Among the early settlers of our county, Henry Dilley deserves more than a passing notice. He was one of the four Dilley brothers, one of whom was the late Martin Dilley. It is believed the Dilleys came from Maryland, and very probably of French descent.

Henry Dilley went over to John Sharp's, the early settler of Frost, often enough to persuade his daughter Margaret to have him for better or worse, and they were happily married and settled on Thorny Creek, and as long as Dilleys Mill will be known his name will not be forgotten. Mr Dilley never doubted the truth of the Bible--especially that place in Genesis where it speaks of the ground bringing forth "thorns and thistles." he had enough of these things to contend with on his Thorny Creek land, where he settled, opened up a home, and built a mill--one of the best of its kind at that day--and its successor keeps up a good reputation as Dilley's mill yet. Men may come and men may go, but the beautiful perennial stream, that was utilized by Henry Dilley, still goes on in its useful service for the benefit of his children's children, and a great many others, far and near.

Joseph Dilley, son of Henry Dilley, married Mary Ann, a daughter of the late Joseph Friel, on Greenbrier River, five miles above Marlinton, and near the mouth of Thorny Creek, and settled on a part of the homestead, where he yet lives.

Michael Daugherty, p. 400, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

Among the early permanent settlers of Knapps Creek, and a person of some prominence in county affairs was Michael Daugherty. He was a native of Ireland and came from Donegal and settled here about 1770. The property he owned is now in possession of Peter L. Cleek, William L. Harper, and the Ruckman sisters Margaret and Nancy. Mrs Daugherty was Margaret McClintic, whose parents lived near Staunton, Virginia. They were the parents of seven children, four daughters and three sons.

Their daughter Martha became Mrs John Frame and lived in Nicholas County.

Isabella Daugherty was married to William Nicholas and lived on Douthards Creek. The late Thomas Nicholas, on the Indian Draft, was one of her sons.

Elizabeth Daugherty became Mrs Adam Sharatt and located on the Greenbrier three miles above Marlinton, where he built a mill, traces of which yet remain. The dam remained long after the mill went out of use and went to ruins. It was finally destroyed as a nuisance. A more substantial structure of the kind perhaps was never constructed anywhere in this region. Thence the Sharatts went to Jacksons River, near the headwaters.

Margaret Daugherty married William Ruckman and first lived in Highland, afterwards came to Knapps Creek to the old homestead. In reference to her family we have the following particulars:

Isabella Ruckman died at the age of fourteen years.

Isaiah Curry, p. 493, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

Not long after the war of 1812 Isaiah Curry, a native of Rockbridge County, located on Back Alleghany, at the place now owned by Zechariah Swink. Mrs Curry was Abigail Hall of Virginia. These worthy persons are the ancestors of the Curry relationship on Back Mountain. Late in life they moved to Lewis County. Their family consisted of four sons and four daughters: William, James, John, Robert, Sally, Elizabeth, Anna, and Margaret.

William Curry was a stone mason, and a very swift workman. His wife was Nancy Lytton, of Rockbridge, and after his marriage they settled in Lewis County,

James, when about grown, was killed by a falling tree while browsing cattle near home. Robert Curry and Isaac Hayse were near him at the time, likewise employed.

John Curry married Virginia Wanless and settled on Back Alleghany. During the war he was taken prisoner and kept until peace was ratified and the prisoners released. He then located in Barbour County.

Robert Curry married Elizabeth Swink, of Rockbridge, and lived on Back Mountain. In reference to his family the following particulars are available:

His son James was a Confederate soldier, and was among the last soldiers killed at Appomattox in 1865.

Enos married Miss Logan, a daughter of the late John Logan, and lives on Back Alleghany.

Nancy was married to Samuel Hevener, and lives on Back Alleghany.

Charlotte became Mrs Brown Gum and lives in Randolph.

Adam Curry, p. 311, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

A generation since, one of the best known characters in West Highland, Virginia, was Captain Adam Curry, a Revolutionary veteran. One of his grandsons, William Curry, is a well known citizen of Pocahontas County. Captain Curry was a native of Scotland, and came to America, and resided several years near Manassas Junction. He was among the first to enlist in the war of the Revolution, and was chosen captain of his company, and participated in all the engagements in which Virginia troops were engaged that followed Mercer and Washington.

James Cooper, p. 476, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

During most of the 19th century the Cooper name has been familiar in our region. James Cooper, the progenitor of the Cooper relationship, was a native of Augusta County, and was reared in the Mossy Creek section of that great County. Having married Nancy Agnes Wooddell, he came over with the Wooddells, very early in the settlement of the upper section of our county, and opened up property now owned by Robert N . Gum, near Greenbank, then known as the Piney Woods. They were the parents of four sons and six daughters.

Elizabeth Cooper became Mrs Woods, and settled at Greenhill, Highland County.

Margaret became Mrs Enoch Hill and lived in Ritchie County. Her daughter Harriet became Mrs Fling, and lived at Flag, Ohio. Nannie became another Mrs Fling, and lived in Ritchie County.

Jane Cooper became Mrs Andrew Kerr and lived near Dunmore. Her daughter Nannie became Mrs Washington Hoover; Anne, now Mrs Raymer Davis, near Greenbank; Caroline, now Mrs Gatewood Sutton, at Durbin. Her son William Kerr in Pocahontas, and John Kerr lives in Lewis County.

Lucinda Cooper became Mrs John Alexander Gillespie, late of Greenbank. Her children were Taylor, Amos, and Wise, the three sons. Her daughters were Nancy, who became Mrs George Beverage; Rachel, now Mrs Henry Sheets, near Dunmore; Margaret now Mrs John L. Hudson, near Louise, Mary now Mrs George Sheets, and Martha.