The Savage grant, the first land granted to private individuals in Cabell and Wayne counties, is a proposition which won't stay downed.
The other day the writer of this article happened to get chesty about one of his ancestral names being named in the first land grant here. "I guess that's how part of my tribe came here, " it was remarked.
And right there another of those fond dreams was punctured. . .
"Nothing doing!" remarked the other fellow who takes pleasure in doing that sort of thing.
The cold truth of the matter is (and how like us yet, we thought) every bit of that first land grant was sold for taxes!
All of those ancestors who should have settled here, judging by the names, will [require] a little more research work. Not a single person entitled to a share of the Savage grant ever took possession of it.
The lands were sold after the War of 1812 for United States direct tax of two cents an acre. Cabell county, which included Wayne at that time, had to raise $1,546, 50, and the old soldiers or their heirs forfeited their tracts of 400 acres rather than pay the $8.00 accessed against it.
It had been decreed that if the land taxes were not paid by July 1, 1819, the land should be sold. In 1817 surveyors were directed to come here to make such surveying as might be necessary and to make appraisal reports, and the like.
General Edward W. Tupper was the surveyor. The commission was composed of George Summers, Lewis Summers, John Henderson, William Sterrett and Andrew Parks.
Their bill of expenses was $2, 351, ?55 and was accessed at $33 to each share of the 400 acres, which was in addition to the tax and equalization money. They reported the number of lots and their estimated value.
The suit had been instituted at Staunton, Va., and there in December 1818 the tract allotted to the original grant of William Buffington, 3,423 acres, was confirmed to Thomas and William Buffington, Jr.
The 800 acres assigned to Charles Morgan was turned over to Simon Morgan, Nancy Morgan, and to James Wells and his wife. There was allotted in 1775 to James Mccormick 1200 acres, owner of the shares of Timothy Conway, John Meade and James Ford. This tract was confirmed to Moses Mccormick, and others.
Lots 48, 58, 59 and 60 were allotted to Isaac LaRue Tot, the shares of N. A. McCoy.
Parts of the tracts assigned to Robert Tunstall, Robert Langdon, Joshua Jordan, Ed Evans, John Ramsey, Michael Scully and Marshall Pratt were confirmed to John Morrow.
The shares of James Given and Wm. Hogan were assigned to Robert Rutherford, later to John Morrow. Morrow also acquired the share of Mathew Donn and Richard Bolton.
David Spurlock acquired lot 26. Numbers 22 and 25, the shares of Wm. and Henry Bailey were confirmed to Charles Brown of Kanawha county.
The shares of Charles Smith were conveyed to Philip Easton and to Horatio Catlett. The shares of James Ludlow were conveyed to John Poage, that of James Latrol to John Poage, the shares of William Coleman to Achilles Rogers.
The shares of James, Samuel, Hugh, Paul and Robert Jones were confirmed to Henry Hampton and his assignees. The shares of David Gorman were confirmed to Manoah Bostick.
The tract of Richard Trotter was confirmed to Edward McCarty.
One of the earliest settlers, Jonathan Buffington, returned to his home on the Guyandotte and found the bodies of his entire family, except a little girl, lying on the ground scalped. He concluded his child was left to live and had been captured by the Indians. He followed them and he himself was taken and was held prisoner for years. He finally returned to Cabell county, but no trace of his baby girl has ever been found.
Thomas Hannon, who settled at Green Bottom, has been called the first settler in Cabell county. The first settler in the present limits of Wayne was probably Stephen Kelly, who erected his cabin at the point, at the mouth of Big Sandy, in 1798. Mathew Bellomy came in 1799.
Wayne and Cabell counties were both formerly parts of Kanawha county, which was formed in 1788.
C. H. Kendrick, who has been ill for the past few weeks, is slowly improving.---W. H. Perdue made a business trip to Huntington Monday.---Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Roberts and little daughter Thelma, of Huntington, spent last week with Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Drown.---Mrs. George Rowe and daughter , Dorothy Neal, are spending the week with Mrs. Rowe's parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Kendrick.---The Walkers Branch school, which was successfully taught by E. A. Buckingham, closed April 3.- --Fisher Drown visite relatives here Sunday.
Honey Gal
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Sheppard and Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Sheppard have moved to Coal Grove, Ohio. Otis Crabtree has moved into the house vacated by them.---Mr. and Mr. J. R. Rigg gave a chopping and a quilting last Thursday. The ladies who asisted with the quilting were Mrs. Wayne Rigg, Mrs. Fletcher Noble, Mrs. G. B. Hayton of Centerville, Mrs. H. Hooser, Josephine Artrip, Myrtle Thompson, and Minnie Bartram.---Mrs. Carmi Webb and Walter Nobel attended the funeral of James Akers of Big Hurricane last week.---Mr. and Mrs. Beecher Noble are moving to Ceredo this week.---Minnie Bartram entertained at her home Sunday the following: Mrs. George Crockett, Josephine Artrip, Katy Ferguson, Martha and Reba Rigg, Taylor Noble and Robert Bartram.
Reporter
Cassie Staley of Wayne, spent last week end with Pansy Staley.---The Freshman class of Ceredo District High school gave a party at the home of Francis Damron last Friday night. After many interesting games refreshments were served to all present.---Rev. Billups of Catlettsburg preached at Locust Grove Baptist last Saturday night and Sunday.---The B. Y. P. U. was well attended at Locust Grove Sunday night. The following group leaders have been appointed: Merlin Roberts, Helen Freeman, Francis Damron and Lloyd Plymale.---The Parents Teachers Meeting will be held at Ceredo District Hi school, April 11.---An Easter program will be given at Locust Grove April 20.
Henry Mathis of Logan county is spending a few days with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. V. Mathis, of Beechy Branch.--- A. J. Toppins of Six Mile was visiting friends at Kiahsville a few days ago.---Born: to Mr. and Mrs. Charley Maynard, Jr., April 4, a boy.---Tom Maynard of Wilsondale was the week end guest of his son, E. Q. Maynard.---F. T. Adkins has moved to his home at Cove Gap.---Leona Finley was the Sunday guest of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Maynard.
Little School Girl
A birthday dinner was given at the home of Mr. and Mr. Thomas E. Phillips, near East Lynn, in honor of the 81st birthday of Uncle Evermont Ross. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. B. B. Ross, Mr. and Mrs. D. E. Belcher, Mrs. Charley Tabor, Esta Tabor, Fannie Spence, Zelma and C. Asbury, Mrs. Martha Lester and children, Juanita and Majorie, Ella and Julia Russell, Lena and Violet Tabor, Mr. and Mrs. Aley Pratt, Willie Pratt, Thomas Napier, and Mrs. G. W. Drenner.
Millard Maynard, who has ben visiting in Logan County, has returned home.---W. W. Marcum was a business visitor at East Lynn Monday.---J. F. Maynard was the Saturday guest of his daughter, Mrs. A. H. Napier of East Lynn.---Mrs. Alvis Maynard of Beechy Branch was visiting on our Creek last Saturday.---John Napier and Arthur Smith, who have been working in Logan county for some time, have returned home.---Nannie and Clarcy Maynard were visiting friends at Ferguson last Sunday.---Hazel and Lucian Smith were week end guests of their grandfather, Wm. Napier.---Mrs. John Smith was the week end guest of friends at East Lynn.---Geo. Smith is preparing to move to Westmoreland.---Mrs. Jesse Smith of Kenova is visiting friends here.
Mountain Rooter
Sunday School at this place is progressing nicely with Rev. U. S. Workman as superintendent.---Ada and Lena Ronk were recently visiting friends at Echo.---Burnie Booth has purchased a new Maxwell car.---L. H. Hatten and Albert Ronk were business visitors in Wayne Saturday.---Earl Jackson visited relatives in Kenova last week.---Mosco Hatten was recently visiting friends on Black Fork.---G. P. Buskirk was visiting relatives in Genoa last week.
Silas Green
Sherman Horn had the misfortune of getting two ribs broken while working in a logging job here.---C. G. Perry was transacting business at Crum Saturday.---Ethel Pratt of Mill Creek was the week end guest of Della V. Perry.---Mr. and Mrs. Ora Artrip of Glenhayes have moved into the house vacated by Mr. and Mrs. Moses Brown.---Alonzo Elkins, who has a severe attack of small pox is improving.---Fannie Lovins, who is taking training at the Williamson hospital is visiting home folks.---Sanford Horn was the week end guest of folks on Turkey Creek.---Sadie Lovins of Portsmouth was recently visiting home folks.
Romie Maynard of Logan county is visiting his grandmother on Twelve Pole.---Bill Maynard recently visited home folks.-- -W. C. Maynard, who has been working on Huff Creek, has returned home.---W. F. Maynard is on the sick list.
Ginger
The State Teachers' Elementary Examination will be held at Fort Gay and Wayne, on the 24th and 25th of April. All teachers expecting to take either of said examinations will register on the evening before.
Said examinations will begin at eight a. m. each morning. To secure a first grade certificate an applicant must have the following: Namely, High School subjects, eight units, two years work. Professional subjects, 16 semester hours, 18 weeks work. No credit less than 1--4 unit will be given in any subject. All of these credits must be certified by proper officials of the school in which it was done, and if so qualified for a first grade certificate at the time you enter the examination, attach a statement of your High school and professional subjects to your enrollment card. But if this work is not completed at that time, send a statement to the State Department as soon as possible and no later than September 1st.
Applicants should be on hand promptly at the beginning of each session. In no case an applicant will be allowed to begin a subject after the manuscripts on that subject have been taken up.
No applicant from another county may be admitted to the examination if he does not have a written permission from the County Superintendent of the county where he resides.
So be prepared with ink, erasers, paper, knives, pencil and pen, etc. Because it is a mark of a good teacher to come fully equipped with everything he may need. (sic)
JOHN H. BECKLEY
County Superintendent of Schools
Transcription by June White