Pocahontas County History Preservation, Digitization, Community

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.

John Collins, p. 412, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

For nearly a hundred years the name Collins has been a familiar one among our people. The progenitor was John Collins, a native of Ireland. He found his way from Pennsylvania to Pendleton county, where he met and married Barbara Full. He first settled on the Dun woody place, near Meadow Dale, in Highland. About the year 1800 he moved to what is now Pocahontas county, and settled on the Greenbrier on lands now held by William H. Collins, and built up a home. There had been some improvements begun by former settlers, but so little that to all intents and purposes he settled in the woods. Mr and Mrs Collins were the parents of four sons and four daughters: John, James, Lewis and Charles; Barbara, Susannah, Mary and Elizabeth.

Barbara went west; it is believed to Ohio; Susannah became Mrs George Nottingham and lived in Athens county, Ohio; Elizabeth became Mrs William Queen, and went to Marion county, Ohio.

In reference to the sons of John Collins, we learn that John was a dealer in horses, and upon going to Richmond with a drove he was never heard of afterwards. The probability seems to be that he was killed and robbed in the Blue Ridge.

James went to Lawrence county, Ohio, married Henrietta daughter of Judge Davidson, settled seven miles below Iron ton, and reared a large family. H e was a prosperous prominent citizen.

Thomas Cochran, p. 422, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

Among the persons who have been identified with our county history, the Cochran relationship claim recognition. For more than a hundred years the name has been a familiar one. The Pocahontas Cochrans are the descendants of Thomas Cochran, senior, a native of Ireland, one of three brothers who came over together. One of these brothers settled in Augusta and his descendants are highly respected in that county. Another of these Cochrans went to Kentucky, it is believed. Thomas Cochran, the subject of this sketch, married a Miss MacKemie, near Parnassus, in Augusta county, and settled on the Rankin place on the Greenbrier, near the mouth of Locust Creek. Thence he moved to the place now held by Mathews Ruckman. The relationship is so widely extended that it is only possible to trace his descendants to a degree where the present generation can take up the line and complete it.

Archibald Clendennin, p.154, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

The Clendennin name has been familiar as a household word to our people for more than a hundred years.

They are the descendants of Archibald Clendennin, who was one of the pioneers of Greenbrier County, and lived in the Big Levels, not far from Lewisburg. The place has been long known as the Ballard Smith homestead.

Charles Clendennin was slain by the Indians in 1763 and was survived by two sons, George and Charles.

In regard to George Clendennin we have nothing authentic. Charles Clendennin was one of the pioneers of Kanawha County, and the city of Charleston is named for him. William Clendennin, a son of Charles, married Sallie Cochran, daughter of John Cochran, and settled on the Burgess place, near Hillsboro, now occupied by John Payne. This occurred about 1780. Their sons were William and John; their daughter Catherine became Mrs Jacob Kennison.

Michael Cleek, p. 379, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

The ancestor of the Cleek relationship in Pocahontas County was Michael Cleek, who was one of the earlier pioneers to occupy the attractive portion of the Knapps Creek valley adjacent to Driscol, and came from Bath County. His wife was Margaret Henderson Crawford, whose father was from Lancaster, Pa., and lived in Bath County, near Windy Cove.

Michael Cleek opened the lands comprised in the Peter L. Cleek, William H . Cleek, and Benjamin F. Fleshman properties--the persons just named being his grandchildren. With the exception of two or three very small clearings, it was a primitive, densely unbroken forest of white pine and sugar maple. He built a log cabin on the site of the new stable, and some years subsequently reared a dwelling of hewn timber, now the old stable at Peter L. Cleek's. The late John Cleek, father of Peter and William, and who was the oldest of the family, could just remember when his parents settled here. They came out by the way of Little Back Creek, crossing the Alleghany Mountain opposite Harper's. His mother carried him in her lap, horseback, all the way from Windy Cove. Michael Cleek's family consisted of three sons, John, William, and Jacob; and three daughters, Elizabeth, Barbara, and Violet.

Jacob Cassell, p. 409, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

Jacob Cassell, ancestor of the numerous relationship of that name, was a native of Pendleton. In early manhood he came to Bath, where he married Nancy McLaughlin, a sister of Squire Hugh McLaughlin, late of Marlinton. After living several years in Bath, he bought out Mr Deaver, on Greenbrier River, three miles west of Greenbank, now known as the Cassell fording. Here he settled and became a wellknown citizen of our county, about seventy years ago. His family were two daughters and five sons: William, Jacob, John, Samuel, James, Nancy and Jane.

William married Matilda Wanless, and settled on Back Alleghany where he spent the remainder of his life—he was eighty-two years old when he died. He was married twice. The first children were Nancy Jane and George. The daughter became Mrs Henry Barlow and lives near Edray. George was a Confederate soldier and died of wounds during the war. William Cassells second marriage was with Nancy Collins. By this marriage there were seven children. Mary Catherine became Mrs Thomas Beverage; Martha Ellen was married to Robert Sutton, a prominent teacher of schools; William, Jr., married India Sutton and settled on the homestead; Louisa was married to John Cassell and lives near the old home; Charles married Annie Geiger and lives at Huttonsville. Sarah Ann died aged 13 years; George went to Texas and after many adventures on cattle ranches was drowned.