The early fort at Belleville, in Harris District, Wood County. The Ohio River is to the left. (Drawing by Jan Tice)

The early history of Belleville, by Minnie Kendal Lowther concludes…

New Arrival at Belleville

Near the year 1797, Belleville received an important addition of emigrants from Connecticut, who had a telling effect upon the advancement of the colony. The leading spirit of this party was George D. Avery, who was destined to write his name indelibly into the annals of Wood County. He was a professional surveyor and civil engineer, and his usefulness knew no bounds. He not only carried on the mercantile business but was a ship builder as well. After the birth of Wood County, in August 1799, he was justice of the peace; took a prominent part in reviewing and establishing roads; and under the direction of William Robinson, junior, and Dr. Joseph Spencer, who were litigating their titles to Parkersburg, he completed, on December 7, 1810, his survey of the town [of Parkersburg] in the form of a map, which is on record in the Wood County court house as the first map of the city. Avery Street, the fifth from the Ohio, bears his name.

After doing such an extensive business at Belleville for years, Mr. Avery failed financially. Amidst his distress, he lost his wife – a woman of high culture. She was a widow, Mrs. Chamberlain, with three sons, Lodwick, Samuel, and Guy Chamberlain, when Mr. Avery married her, and they had one son, George D. Avery, junior. The step sons were fine young fellows and Mr. Avery did a good part by them – investing their inheritance from their father’s estate in the Upper Belleville Bottom, which later became the land of Daniel R. Neal. But here the whole family seemed to pass out of the history and nothing later seems to be recorded of them.

Among the other emigrants from Connecticut, along with the Averys was George D. Prentiss and his wife, who was a sister of Mrs. Avery. They settled on a farm adjoining Lee Creek and purchased other lots and lands. But he died just a little later, leaving his wife and two sons, Jonathon and Henry L. Prentiss the Lee Creek farm, which they later sold to Caleb Web and went to Monongalia County. But Henry L. Prentiss married Miss Rebecca Mayberry, and returned to Parkersburg where he figured prominently in county affairs – as justice of the peace; representative in the Virginia legislature, but finally removed to Quincy, Illinois where he died. Benjamin M. Prentiss of Parkersburg, was his son.

Lee Creek Settled

The first settler on Lee Creek, however, was David Lee, a hunter and trapper, who reared his cabin on this creek in advance of the coming of the Belleville colony in 1785, the exact date of his settlement being unknown, but he left his name imbedded in the creek, which is sufficient for memory. He married a sister of Peter Anderson about 1797, bought land and settled on Tygart Creek where he died leaving descendants.

The Parkersburg News,

July 9, 1939

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Want to experience modern-day Belleville and see more of its history? The 2025 Belleville Homecoming is Friday and Saturday, September 19 and 20. Come down and enjoy the country atmosphere, good food, fun and Wood County history!

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Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.