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Look Back: George Washington’s Mid-Ohio Valley ties

Historical newspaper excerpts from the Wood County Historical Society

Photo Provided This image of George Washington used to be displayed in most every grade school in Wood County,

One hundred years ago to-day, General George Washington, of “our” State, was inaugurated in New York City as the first President of the young Republic. And a few local traditions or references to them at least, in regard to the Father of His Country, the grandest figure of modern times, may not be inappropriate at this date.

Among the musty records that are hidden away in the archives of the old Court-house of Wood County is an autograph of George Washington. It is affixed to a deed for a part of the land known as Washington Bottom, and which was conveyed to Mr. George Mayberry by Gen. Washington. The deed is a venerable looking document, some part of it being almost obliterated, but the name of Washington stands out clear and distinct.

There was an old house some years ago on Washington’s Bottom, the foundations of which can still be seen, where the illustrious General used to stop when visiting his possessions in this part of the country. Among the early occupants of this house were Col. C.J. Phelps and his family. Here within the boundaries of our own county, the first President of the United States often ate the homely fare of the pioneer, and made that house his headquarters while running the metes and bounds of the beautiful bottom land that bears his name.

There is a local tradition that just across the river from the bottom, in Ohio, there is a hill, the top of which resembles the profile of the head of Washington, placed there as the Indians said, by the Great Spirit, to guard the Ohio Valley forever against all enemies of Washington’s fair domain.

A good many years ago, Milt Peyton, the Third street barber, carried the chain for the surveyor when the Mayberry tract was surveyed, and knows every stone, tree and stump on the bottoms. The land was in litigation not long ago, and Milt took the stand as a witness and told the boundaries exactly, “beginning at an old beech tree near the brewery, hence” etc.

There is an old land-mark out on Murdoch avenue that brings up memories of a hundred years ago. But this venerable patriarch will soon have to give way to the relentless march of time. Reference is made to the old poplar tree that stands on the VanWinkle estate, just beyond Twelfth street, and the spring at its roots, where Washington is known to have slaked his thirst. Among the noted men besides Washington, who have no doubt rested beneath the shadows of the old poplar tree were Lord Dunsmore, Aaron Burr, Lewis Wetzel, Cornstalk and his son Elinipsico, Logan the Mingo Chief, Wm. R. Harrison, Mad Anthony Wayne, Tecumseh, Black Hawk and many others. When Blennerhassett drifted down the tawny tide of the Beautiful River, he may have cooled his aching and fevered brow at the clear spring that still bubbles forth at the roots of the old poplar. But while a hundred years have wrought many changes, the name of Washington is as green in the hearts of his countrymen as the leaves of the venerable tree.

Excerpts from the Parkersburg Daily State Journal

April 30, 1889

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Bob Enoch is the president of the Wood County Historical Society. The group meets at 7p.m. on the last Monday of each month in the Summers Auditorium at the Wood County Public Library on Emerson Avenue. They do not meet in December. For more information, contact P.O. Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.

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