As might be expected, solid information on the earliest sawmills that operated in the Upper Greenbrier Valley is hard to find. The details in this chapter will be sketchy at best in most cases and some of it anecdotal, some confusing, rather than historically confirmed.
Water was the only source of power used for sawmills prior to the Civil War; steam power for mills did not appear until after the war. Steam, with its many advantages, provided the power for the rapid growth of the lumber industry in the valley. However, a number of water-powered mills continued to operate and a few new ones started up in the later years of the Nineteenth Century even as steam power became the norm. Although the last water-powered grist mill in the valley did not cease operating until the mid-1950s, the last lumber cut by water power was produced about 1910.
The water-powered sawmills were usually run by the operator of a grist mill and secondary to his major business, although there were some people who ran only a sawmill. Due to the problem with transportation referred to in the previous chapter, the market for the production of these early sawmills would have all been local.
Greenbrier County
Although there are records of grist mills in operation in the Lewisburg – Ronceverte area prior to 1800, no references have been found to any also having a sawmill. However, it would seem reasonable that there would have been sawmills to serve the county seat area.
In Ronceverte the 1873 deed to St. Lawrence Boom and Manufacturing Company for its mill site stated “embracing the old Edgar Saw mill site.” As will be related in Chapter V, the Edgar Family operated a grist mill for many years prior to the coming of the lumber company but this is the only reference found to a saw mill.1
On Anthonys Creek, Thomas Kirkpatrick built a grist mill and sawmill in 1810, at the mouth of Little Creek. In 1818 John Holly installed another grist mill and sawmill at the junction of of these two streams. In September 1831 Holly sold land and “appurtenances” to Robert Kirkpatrick and James Thompson.2
Another water-powered sawmill in the Anthonys Creek District was built in 1820 by Christopher Hoke.3
The 1836 Gazetteer of Virginia and the District of Columbia referred to five sawmills in the description of the Anthonys Creek area.4
A grist mill was located on Anthonys Creek, about a quarter mile above the mouth of the creek. It was known as the Ludington mill from —-
depositions and maps in Greenwah Lumber Company vs. Kendall-Deeter Lumber Company (Chancery File 262) refer to Ludington mill above the mouth of Anthonys Creek – Henry Gilmer, deposition 12/14/1918, mentioned grist and “saw mill connected therewith” – after several deeds it became property of Robert Handley – he left before the CW – mill fell down after the Civil War T. T. Stevenson, deposition 12/30/1918, also referred to Handley mill and sawmill – GCDB 57 p 265, deed, 7/12/1901, C. P. Seil to Geo. W. P. and Simeon M Jones, 875 ac, (1) refers to Handley house and mill, and 396 ac. reference to rock house by creek, mill race, (2) 40 ac. at/near mouth of Anthonys Creek, and (3) 15 ac. Anthonys Creek and Greenbrier River
A 1813 deed for a 147 acre tract of land at the mouth of Laurel Run makes a reference to the “Perkins Mill Dam,” but whether as part of operating the salt making operation on the site or for a grist and/or saw mill is not given. The grantor of the deed was – – – Perkins.5
The grantees in the deed from Perkins, Francis Ludington, William Renick, and David Hanna, continued to make salt but also put a dam across the river and put in a sawmill and houses on the tract. The sawmill and houses were washed out a flood, date not given.6
Deeds: to Perkins, – – —
Perkins to Ludington, et al, GCDB 5, p 30, 8/24/1813
Hanna & Renick to Ludington, – – – –
F. H. Ludington to Mathews & Fuller, — – – – –
M & F to Sherwood, – – – –
John Keister and son, Josiah (or Julius) erected a carding house and sawmill in 1866 on the Greenbrier River at the location that now goes by their name. In June 1873 the ownership was transferred to the son. This mill, with a dam in the river to provide the water, was still in existence at the time the C&O built its line up the Greenbrier River.7
There were two grist mills on Spring Creek between the Lewisburg and Marlins Bottom Turnpike (US Rt. 219) and the mouth of the stream. It has not been found if one or both may included a sawmill.
A map of Greenbrier County, dated 1887, has a “Mill” at White Sulphur Springs on Howard Creek, at/near mouth of Dry Creek, and “Tom May’s Mill” at the head of Little Creek. The Greenbrier Independent had two references to Thomas May’s sawmill on Little Creek in 1889. No determination has been found if May’s mill was water or steam powered.8
A sawmill under May’s name was included in the State Gazetteer and Business Directory for 1882-1883 under Lowrys Mill (later Neola), and in 1891-1892 under both Alvon and Sue (which was on Little Creek).9
The list of river features in the chapter of lumber rafting on the river includes “Huff Dam” between Keister and Stone House An 1880 newspaper item mentions Huff’s mill about five miles below Callison’s mill This mill could be the one shown on the 1887 map of Greenbrier County at the future site of Brink; assuming the Callison mill was at Anthony, the mileage would fit this location – need to check if a sawmill was involved 10
The list of river features also includes Bird’s Dam at Horrock.
1901 C&O track map shows a sawmill on the north side of Howards Creek, near its mouth
The New River Atlas, p 110, has Hunter’s sawmill (1821) on Howards Creek, east of Caldwell; also shows location of Caldwell’s mill on the river – need to see if it included a sawmill
what is the origin of the name “Gunpowder Ridge” – given as “Powder Mill Ridge” in early material?
Below Anthony – GCDB 25, p 388, deed, 3/31/1868, William Hull and Allen Hull to Oscar Callison, Trustee, $2000, 292 acres on Greenbrier River, “Hull Mill Property” with a mill and sawmill, for the use and benefit of Sarah F. Callison, wife of Elisha F. Callison, and their children
Footnotes
1 GCDB 27, p 433, 3/15/1873 2 Hardesty, ——-; GCDB 12, p 234, 9/17/1831; name given as Holly and Holley; WVN, June 1938, Greenbrier County’s 160th Anniversary Edition 3 Greenbrier County Historical Booklet, — 4 Martin, Gazetteer of Virginia and the District of Columbia, p 35 5 GCDB 5, p 30, 8/24/1813
6 GCCC, W. H. Deeter, S. A. Kendall, E. S. Boyer, partners doing business as Kendall-Deeter Lumber Company, and S. M. Jones vs. Henderson Lumber Company, Jose I. Henderson and Donaldson Lumber Company, bill of complaint, filed 5/23/1906; as the reader will find “Laurel” was a common name for creeks and runs in the Greenbrier Valley, this particular stream is located – – – – – –
7 GCDB 26, p 385, 9/29/1866, DB 27, p 470, 6/28/1873; on 1901 C&O right-of-way map the mill is at about Mile Post 11.3 and mill dam at about Mile Post 11.6
8 GI, 5/30/1889, 7/18/1889
9
10 PT, 4/9/1897, GI, 3/25/1880
Pocahontas County
Paul McNeel is reported to have operated a sawmill on Spice Run, mainly cutting white pine timber.11
State vs. Spice Run Lbr. Co. involved 611 acres of land at the mouth of Spice Run patented to Paul McNeel in 1858, forfeited for non-payment of taxes
47-269, 9/12/1911, deed to Tomb Lbr. Co., 100 ac at the mouth of Beaver Creek, “corner to the old saw mill”
The two grist mills at Mill Point on Stamping Creek are reported to have also included sawmills.
The earliest one was built by Valentine Cackley, Sr., around 1800 and located on the downstream side of the road. His operation also included a tilt hammer, carding machine, and tannery. Sawmill equipment was added to the mill in 1808. This mill was sold in April 1857 to Matthew Wallace and to Uriah Bird in December 1882, who built a new mill in 1889. It was later sold to Thomas Hogsett, in May 1892. There is no record as to how long the sawmill portion of the business continued. (None of the deeds for the property made reference to a sawmill.)12
The the other mill was constructed in the early 1800s – Brooks has 1778 – on the upstream side of the road and had sawmill equipment installed at some time before the Civil War. Depending upon source, the mill was built by Valentine Cackley, Jr., or by him and Joseph Cackley. It was sold in February 1834 to Sampson Matthews and passed to his daughter Mary McClintic by will in 1854. The next owner was Isaac McNeel who purchased it in December 1865. McNeel had a new mill built about 1868. This mill building still exists and there is no evidence it ever included a sawmill. This grist mill was operated to at least early 1948, one of the last water powered mills in the county.13
check for sure which mill the WVN 160 was referring to in1808 adding sawmill apparatus
At the mouth of Stamping Creek a sawmill was built by John H. Ruckman in the early 1800s. He sold it to James E. A. Gibbs in May 1860 and purchased the mill back in September 1863. Ruckman sold the mill for $2,000 but had to pay $2,300 to get it back. Both Ruckman and Gibbs received logs by floating them down the river, one of the first sawmills to use this form of transportation of logs.14
early 1800s – 1860 seems too many years for one man – the first deed with Ruckman’s name is 4-42 in 1843
Just up river, at the mouth of Stephen Hole Run, there was a saw and grist mill operated by the Smith family. Date of construction is not known but it was included in the February 1877 deed dividing up the property of James Smith among his sons. In August 1901 the facility was sold to Harman Nathan and by him to Sherman Pyles in December 1905. “Smith’s Dam” was one of the features in the river that the men handling the log drives had to contend with.15
In 1887 Milliard F. Ruckman was appointed a Surveyor of Road “to commence at the Stephen hole run at the pike [U. S. 219] and extending to the forks of the road above James A. McClure’s house and thence to William Smith’s mill and also from said forks of the road to James McClures’s Saw Mill.”16
McClure’s mill could be steam
About the beginning of the 1800s Thomas Casebolt built a sash sawmill on the headwaters of Locust Creek. There is an 1852 reference to this mill in county court records. In December 1855 Casebolt sold the land, with a dwelling house, grist mill and sawmill, to William Clendenen for $1,000. Under an April 1865 agreement, the land and mill went back to Casebolt.17
same Thomas Casebolt in all this?
Lower down on Locust Creek was the grist and sawmill of Josiah Beard, Sr., located just below the existing covered bridge. It was originally built by his father, John, and became Josiah’s property after John’s death in 1808. This mill went to Josiah’s son Edwin in 1874 and he either built a new mill or remodeled the existing one. The mill left the Beard Family with the sale to W. H. Overholt in July 1893. The mill went through several additional owners with the last sale being to Sidney McCoy in December 1931. There is no evidence of how long lumber production was part of the operation. Some mill foundation and part of the stone mill dam are visible today. The original bridge at this site was needed because of the mill pond and was built before 1821. (The existing covered bridge was constructed in 1888.)18
George Hill located a sawmill on Rush Run, between Jacox and Lobelia, probably about 1850. In deeds dated June 1860 and July 1869 he transferred ownership to James F. Hill. In February of 1870, the sawmill, dam, mill race and lumber yard were sold for $50 to Morgan Anderson. The next year, in January, Anderson purchased 1.25 acres on Bruffeys Creek for a sawmill “seat” with the mill to be installed by April 1 or the tract would revert to the grantor. He must have installed a mill because he sold the land in 1888, with appurtenances, “cabin, mill irons and ec.”19
One reference shows Anderson having a sawmill before the Civil War. He did purchase 103 acres on Cave Run in 1858 and perhaps he placed a mill on this land. The same source mentions a pre-war mill built by Peter Hill on Hills Creek and another built by Henry N. Clark on Robins Fork of Spring Creek.20
There were several mills of various sorts on Swago Creek at Buckeye, perhaps dating back as far as a grist mill built by Moses Moore in 1780. Other sources give the McNeill Family credit for the first mill. In addition to the grist mill there were supposedly to also have been a water-powered sawmill, a loom, and a powder mill at this site.21
In January 1891 Withrow McClintic purchased 102 acres on Swago Creek, referred to as the “Old Mill Property”. A 1896 trust deed filed by McClintic refers to the 102 acres on Swago Creek having a mill with sawmill attached on the land.22 check – deed refer to old school and “south of Flemming (sic) Run
In an 1899 deed for the timber on 100 acres at the mouth of Beaver Creek, the description of the tract has a reference to an “old saw mill.” Another deed involving the 100 acre tract, in – – -, also refers to an “old saw mill” in the description.23
In the early part of the 1800s a man by the name of Mike Propps is supposed to have had a sawmill on Stony Creek, near its mouth.24
WVN 160th states a sawmill was located on Stony Creek in the early 1800’s but gives no name of the owner “It was a former – – – building with the old fashioned slash-saw and was a primitive affair.”
One of the most photographed buildings in West Virginia is the grist mill at Babcock State Park. The mill was not built on the site in the park but was originally located in Pocahontas County on Stony Creek, 1.4 miles from Rt. 219. When the mill was closed in 1956 it was the last grist mill to operate in the county. The history of milling at the site goes back for more than a hundred years, to the 1830s. The original saw and grist mill was erected by William Cochran and Alexander Lamb and operated by the Duffield Family. The newest mill, built in 1890, is reported to have included a sawmill but there is no information on how long lumber production continued at this location. Lumber used in the construction of the pulpit in the still-existing Hamlin Chapel Methodist Church in 1835 was sawn on this mill.25
need more on owners – Brooks states “combination of flouring mill, shingle mill and sawmill owned by Godfrey Geiger”
- – – – – – to John Duffield
13-82, 1/3/1878, John R. Duffield to Jacob Waugh, what was deeded?
26-373, 2/20/1895, various Waughs to Samuel D. Waugh, $1800, 78 ac, “Duffield Mill Property”, mill dam in Stony Creek, grantors were Margaratta Waugh, _, A. J. Waugh & wife, Hannah Combs & husband, Amanda & John Waugh, Wm. R. I. Waugh & Lizzie his wife?
need deeds before and after 26-373, deeds to/from Geiger
There was a grist and sawmill operation at the site of the upper section of the Edray Fish Hatchery, before the Civil War. Sources disagree on whether it was started by Robert or Isaac Moore (Robert may have built the grist mill and Isaac the sawmill). In March 1884 the mills were sold to George McLaughlin. How long the operation lasted is not known. The property was sold to the state in September 1944.26
George White, a native of Highland County, Virginia, purchased a tract containing 3,943.5 acres on Big Laurel Creek (of Williams River) in 1878 for $5,620 and installed a sawmill. Whether it was water- or steam-powered is not known, but given the date and isolated location, water as the source of power is probably a safe assumption. According to family history, White was a sawmill operator before coming to Pocahontas County “and the tall timber growing here was a dream come true.”27
White obtained another 25 acres on Big Laurel Creek in February 1883. The deed included the right to build a sawmill dam across the stream.28
George White died on June 28, 1909, and his property went to his son James, who continued in the sawmill business, as related in the next chapter.
Indian Draft near Marlinton was the site of a sawmill erected by the Rev. John Waugh. He also provided blacksmith services.29
One of the more historically confirmed pre-Civil War sawmills was the one operated by James A. Price at Marlins Bottom (Marlinton). It was located on the west side of the river, in the area now referred to as Riverside, and was in operation by the late 1840s. The mill and a carding machine were powered by water diverted from Stony Creek. To get logs to the mill Price may have been the first to use the river as a means of transport (More details in Chapter V). The mill was washed away by a flood in 1877.30 “sawmill tract” on plat 58-219 for 9.9 acres
When the 1854 covered bridge at Marlinton was being torn down in 1915, Ewing Johnson was reported to have said he sawed floorboards for the bridge on the Price mill. By working early and late, Johnson stated he could manage to produce 300 feet per day.31
A description of the road from Marlinton to Huntersville in 1899 referred to the “foot of the hill opposite old sawmill.”32 more
John Bradshaw is reported to have built a sawmill just above Huntersville about the beginning of the Nineteenth Century.33
County records in the 1820s made reference to sawmills operated by both Bradshaw and Samuel Hogsett. On October 5, 1824, the Pocahontas County Grand Jury returned a “presentment” against Hogsett for failure to keep a bridge in lawful repair across a sawmill race. The presentment was “squashed” on May 4, 1825. Bradshaw was awarded a “writ of adquaddammum” on February 6, 1827, by the County Court to build a dam across Knapps Creek for a grist mill and other machinery. On March 9 the writ was returned by William Arbogast, Deputy Sheriff, “with inquisition thereon” and Bradshaw was granted permission to erect his mill.34
In a description of the road from Huntersville up Knapps Creek in March 1825, a reference was made to the Bradshaw sawmill near the first ford in the creek. In May there was a reference to the first ford above Hogsett’s sawmill.35
Bradshaw died in 1834 and in August 1836 his heirs sold Hogsett 157 acres with a mill dam referred to in the deed. The building of the Huntersville and Warm Springs Turnpike included the construction of two bridges over Knapps Creek; one at the narrows (Minnehaha Springs) and the other near Hogsett’s mill dam.36
Bob Francisco, 10/19/2008, said a hole in Knapps Creek near the barn on the Ike Morris property was called the “sawmill hole”
William Perry had an up and down sawmill two miles from Huntersville on Cummings Creek, about 1890.37
There was a water powered mill “on the Lockridge farm where Douthard’s Creek unites with Knapp’s Creek”38
Robert Gay had a sawmill on Beaver Creek “where the Underwood mill now stands” – sawed white pine – McCombs also had a sawmill on Beaver Creek – Brooks, p 243
There was a grist mill and up/down sawmill across from the first Beaver Creek School, owned by Samuel W. Beard, before the Civil War.39
A sawmill was located at the mouth of Barclay Run, between Huntersville and Minnehaha Springs. One source gives George Craig credit for building the mill about 1830. However, he did not get a deed to the land until 1844, from William Gibson. This deed refers to an existing sawmill and carding machine, so either Gibson or possibly the previous owner Lanty Lockridge, who sold the land to Gibson in 1835, built the mill.40
This site had various owners over the years and the deeds refer to grist mill, sawmill, and carding machine, with 1855 being the last time the sawmill was mentioned in a deed. The grist mill, at least, was in operation into the early 1900s. The log drive in 1893 destroyed the mill dam in the creek. See Chapter VI for more details on this incident.41
A sawmill was built before 1800 by Peter Lightner near Minnehaha Springs and it was later owned by James T. Lockridge. (The mill may have been built by James Poage.) In November 1833 Lightner asked the County Court for a “writ of adquaddammum” to condemn one acre of land owned by Isaac Moore on Knapps Creek to build a dam to supply his sawmill with water. The writ was ordered to be issued and the sheriff “to summon and impanel 12 fit persons” to locate the one acre with:
due regard therein to the interests of both parties and to appraise the same according to its true value, to examine the lands above and below, of the property of others, which may probably be overflowed and say to what damage it will be of to the several proprietors, and whether the mansion house of any such proprietors, or the offices, curtilage, or garden thereunto immediately belonging, or orchards will be overflowed, to inquire whether and in what degree — of passage and ordinary navigation will be obstructed and by what means such obstruction may be prevented, whether in their opinion, the health of the neighbors will be annoyed by the stagnation of the water; and . . .
No further reference has been found in court records on this matter.42
Henry Harper settled on Knapps Creek – where- about 1812 and, if all the information is correct, operated a major industrial center for the time – tanyard, blacksmith shop with tilt hammer, grist mill, and a sawmill. His son Samuel was also involved. The mill is reported to have operated until about 1890.43
Washington Moore had a grist mill and sawmill on Knapps Creek. It may have been located opposite the Moore School house.44
James Sharp built a sawmill in 1825 near Frost.45
Moody Moore had a sawmill at – Roland Sharp farm – which “sawed lumber for many houses about 1850”46
Jacob Warwick, pioneer settler in the Clover Lick area, erected a grist mill and sawmill on Glade Run. To power the mill Warwick turned the water of Clover Creek into Glade Run.47
At Stony Bottom there was a sawmill, known at the Galford mill.48
On Leatherbark Creek there were two sash sawmills. One was owned by Allen Galford, located near the present crossing of the Back Mountain Road, and the other, owned by James Cassell, was about five miles up the stream, on Mill Run.49
Rev. James Wanless erected a sawmill on the John F. Wanless farm – where – and, about 1835, another mill on Robert D. McCutcheon land – where – . Logs for the first Methodist Protestant church in the county were squared on this mill.50 which MP church was the first
At Dunmore Jacob Warwick had a sawmill. Later Isaac Moore either erected a new sawmill or rebuilt the Warwick mill. (The Moore reference may be the same as the next mill.)51
Andrew Mathews installed a grist mill, up/down sawmill, carding machine, and planing machine at Dunmore prior to the Civil War. This property had a number of owners over the years, including the Pritchard Family. A transfer of the mill property in 1871 refers to a sawmill as well as grist mill. A new mill was built in the 1870s and it is not known if a sawmill was included. After being sold in 1921 the building was turned into an automobile repair shop.52 review owners
1981 History, p 407 – S. C. Pritchard is given as having a grain mill, sawmill, planing mill, and carding machine – he diverted water from the Dunmore Spring – – – Brooks, p 244, “Still later the Prichards put up another mill at Dunmore.” check quote
In the Thorny Creek watershed, the grist mill at the location called Dilley’s Mill was erected in 1830 by Henry Dilley. Since this mill is included in an article on early sawmills, it may have included sawing equipment.53
The lumber for the building of the Travelers Repose Methodist Church, 1883-85, was cut on Payne’s mill on Johns Run and brought to Noel’s mill at Dunmore for planing. Whether these facilities were water or steam powered is not known, but considering the date, water power is more likely.54? ?
The State Gazetteer and Business Directory list of sawmills for 1882-1883 has J. T. Pane (sic) under Travelers Repose and a planing mill operated by J. A. Noel under Dunmore.
Also have Payne in next chapter
15-370, 7/10/1883, Benjamin F. Jackson to John A. Noel, $1, three tracts on Sitlington Creek, joining S. C. Pritchard, 20 ac, 65.5 ac, 1.25 ac, all refer to a mill race in descriptions
Brooks, p 244, “In the early days, also, Benjamin Arbogast or his descendants, erected a saw mill at Greenbank.”
Ludy (or Luday or Lindy) Taylor built a water powered grist mill and sawmill on Galfords Creek about 1820. The mill ran to around 1880.55
Joseph Wooddell built a grist mill and sawmill on the North Fork of Deer Creek near Green Bank in the early 1800s, with a mill race running from – the North Fork to Rosin Run– Rosin Run to the North Fork – providing the power. In November 1805 Wooddell sold planks that were used in the building of the Deer Creek Union Meeting House, which was located at the site of today’s Arbovale Cemetery. Wooddell also installed a tilt hammer at his mill. This device was used in “drawing out and flanning” iron and steel used for making wagon tires, horse shoes, shovels, plows, bolts, nails, and shaping out heaving iron work.56
Patrick Bruffey built an up/down sawmill and grist mill in the early 1820s on the North Fork of Deer Creek. This was the site of a mill operation for almost 120 years. There is a reference to a new sawmill being built in the 1870s, but how long lumber production continued is not known. A new grist mill was constructed in 1879 by Uriah Hevener. The grist mill burned on March 2, 1940, and was being operated by the North Fork Milling Company at that time.57
About 1840 Solomon Conrad added a sawmill to a grist mill on the North Fork that his father Harman had started around 1800. He ran the mill until the end of the Civil War. Conrad also had a dry kiln as part of his operation.58
Going against the change to steam for sawmill power after the Civil War was Robert J. Brown who installed a water-powered mill on the North Fork of Deer Creek below Sutton Run in 1885. The operation included a rip saw, shingle mill, turning lathe, and planing mill, which he ran until 1907. This may have been the last of the water-powered sawmills to operate in Pocahontas County.59
A few years after the Civil War, Dr. J. P. Moomau erected an up/down mill on his land near Green Bank, as well as a carding machine. It ran for about twenty years and was located “just east of the Gravel bank, near the dipping tank.”60
John Yeager, the first settler in the Bartow area, had a sawmill near his home at Travelers Repose. On the sketch map of the Battle of Greenbrier Ford, a mill is shown on the Travelers Repose property, just below the house, mill race from up the stream, south side of the river.61
need a date for John Yeager coming to TR
In the 1825-30 period Jacob Yeager built a sawmill on Block Run, a tributary of the North Fork of Deer Creek. He constructed a stone dam across the stream, thirteen feet high and 200 feet across. His son John joined him in operating the mill and they ran it until the Civil War.62
The venerable John Gum, who worked for John Yeager and sawed lumber for him on this mill before the Civil War, used to tell an amusing story which illustrates the difference in sawing in those days and in ours. The mill pond covered about an acre of ground, and was well stocked with mountain brook trout. Mr. Gum would start the mill to sawing and then would catch fish for 10 or 15 minutes until the mill had run the line. During the day he would catch a basket of fish and keep the mill running at the same time.63
Daniel Kerr installed a grist mill, sawmill, and blacksmith shop on Little Back Creek, a branch of Deer Creek below Boyer, in the 1790s.64
Alva Phillips ran a water powered grist mill and sawmill on Little River, about three miles from Thornwood, after the Civil War and into the early 1900s. He also was a blacksmith and furniture maker.65
In the Elk River watershed, there were several water powered sawmills.
David Gibson built a grist mill and sawmill on the waters of Elk about 1840, Andrew Amos had a grist mill and sawmill on Roaring Run of Elk, and John Hannah operated a sawmill on Old Field Fork.66
Varner mill on Big Spring Fork of Elk – Dilley
sawmill on Varner (later McAllister) land on Crooked Fork, about 1880 (Jarvinen)
Mace, p 169, states “first grist mill” on Elk was on the west side of the river, near the mouth of Slaty Fork, built about — for John Hannah, then run by son Andy. (from L. D. Sharp tape) Mr. Sharp, p 236, refers to Andy Hannah having an up-and-down sawmill, as well as grist mill.
A few years after the Civil War, William Sharp or one of his sons operated a combination grist mill and sawmill on Big Spring Fork near the Seneca Trail School.67
In October 1885 Samuel Gibson obtained land near Slaty Fork from Hugh Sharp and installed a grist mill and sawmill. They were sold twice in 1888 and again in 1910, to L. D. Sharp. The mill ran into the mid-1920s. However, with all the steam powered sawmills in operation by this time, the mill was probably only a grist mill in its last years of operation.68
A map of Pocahontas County, with a 1825 date, “Surveyed and Drawn under the Direction of H. Boye,” shows the following mills:
• at the location of Bartow – check, at location of T. Repose?
• “canals and mills” at Clover Lick
• “mills” Locust Creek on Greenbrier River
• on Back Mountain
• on Deer Creek
• on North Fork of Deer Creek
• “carding machine and mills” on Browns Creek
• tannery on Cummings Creek
• “mills” on Swago Creek
• “tannery and mills” on Stamping Creek
• “mills and machinery” on Locust Creek
There are a number of “Mill Runs” scattered about Pocahontas County that would imply some connection with mills of some type. These streams are tributaries of:
• Big Spring Fork of Elk
• Greenbrier River, opposite Kennison
• Greenbrier River, – – – –
• Knapps Creek
• Leatherbark Run
• West Fork of Greenbrier
• Williams River
Brooks, p 243 “Hugh McLaughlin owned a water saw mill about 4 miles west of Durbin.” ????
11 Forestry and Wood Industries, pp 241-242; McNeel had a grant of 650 acres on Spice Run and Greenbrier River from the State of Virginia in ——-
12 Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County, p 280; Forestry and Wood Industries, p 241; WVN, June 1938, Greenbrier County 160th Anniversary Section; Hardesty, p –; PCDB 10, p 46, 6/17/1871, DB 15, p 291,12/8/1882, DB 19, p 14, 4/4/1888, DB 26, p 261, 5/7/1892; GI, 12/14/1882, 9/12/1889
13 Dilley, Industrial Period (1860-1910); Forestry and Wood Industries, p 241; PCDB 2, p 171, 2/18/1834, DB 8, p 247, 12/2/1865; PT, 3/11/1948; Isaac McNeel was the author’s great-grandfather
14 Forestry and Wood Industries, p 241; PCDB 8, p 93, 5/28/1860, DB 11, p 181, 9/21/1863, the deeds were for 120 acres that included the mill; PT, 5/28/1897
15 Smith, —; PCDB 12, p 252, 2/13/1877, DB 32, p 102, 8/10/1901, DB 38, p 310, 12/18/1905; PT 4/9/1897
16 PC County Court Docket Book, p 268, 1/5/1887
17 Forestry and Wood Industries, p 241; PC County Court Book 5, p 164, 12/7/1852; PCDB 7, p 25, 12/19/1855, DB 8, p 243, 4/12/1865
18 Dilley, Industrial Period (1860-1910); GC Will Book 1, p 239, will dated 5/11/1808; PCDB 11, p 388, 12/29/1874, DB 23, p 494, 7/19/1893, DB 68, p 479, 12/30/1931; History of Pocahontas County, 1981, p 225
19 Forestry and Wood Industries, p 241; PCDB 8, p 76, 6/9/1860. DB 9, p 128, 7/24/1869, p 216, 2/28/1870. p 394, 1/18/1871, $5, DB 45, p 29, 8/3/1888
20 Forestry and Wood Industries, p 241; PCDB 7, p 278, 1/5/1858
21 History of Pocahontas County, 1981, pp 78-79; Hardesty, p –; Forestry and Wood Industries, p 242
22 PCDB 21, p 211, 1/23/1891, DB 27, p 11, 7/20/1896
23 PCDB 29, p 416, 7/10/1899, DB 47, p 269, – – – – –
24 Forestry and Wood Industries, p 242
25 Forestry and Wood Industries, p 242; Dilley, Industrial Period (1860-1910); Beckley Post Herald, Beckley, WV, 4/24/1956; History of Pocahontas County, 1981, p 130
26 Forestry and Wood Industries, p 242; Dilley, Industrial Period (1860-1910); History of Pocahontas County, 1981, p 67; PCDB 16, p 293, 3/1/1884, DB 80, p 82, 9/14/194427 Dilley, Industrial Period (1860-1910); PCDB 12, p 467, 3/1/1878, agreement for the sale, $1040 due 11/1/1878, $572.50 due 11/1 annually 1879 – 1886, DB 13, p 241, 12/25/1878, deed; History of Pocahontas County, 1981, p 485
28 PCDB 16, p 63, 2/7/1883, whether the dam to provide a pond for storing logs or to provide a source of power for a mill is not indicated in the deed
29 Forestry and Wood Industries, p 24230 Dilley, Industrial Period (1860-1910); PT, 5/28/1897, 4/5/1923; James A. Price was the author’s great-great-grandfather
31 PT, 6/17/1915
32 1898 PC County Court Book, p 36, 11/6/1899
33 Forestry and Wood Industries, p 243
34 PC County Court Book 1, pp 150, 191, 362, 375
35 PC County Court Book 1, p 174, 3/2/1825, pp 189-190, 5/4/1825
36 PCDB 2, p 502, 8/27/1836; PT, 7/2/1931
37 Smith,——
38 Harper, “History of the Knapps Creek Community”39 History of Pocahontas County, 1981, p 9240 Forestry and Wood Industries, p 243; PCDB 2, p 316, 4/18/1835, DB 4, p 109, 10/18/184441 PCDB 7, p 41, 10/13/1855
42 Forestry and Wood Industries, p 243; Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County, pp 180, 397; PC County Court Book 2, pp 407-408, 11/5/183343 Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County, pp 393-394, 397; Forestry and Wood Industries, p 243; Harper, History of the Knapps Creek Community
44 Forestry and Wood Industries, p 243; Harper, History of the Knapps Creek Community
45 Forestry and Wood Industries, p 243; Moody Moore in —
46
47 Forestry and Wood Industries, p 242; PT, 7/27/190548 Forestry and Wood Industries, p 24349 Forestry and Wood Industries, p 243; Clarkson, On Beyond Leatherbark, p 17650 Forestry and Wood Industries, p 243
51 Ibid.
52 Dilley, Industrial Period (1860-1910); Forestry and Wood Industries, p 243; History of Pocahontas County, 1981, pp 64, 407; PCDB 9, p 380, 4/24/1871, DB 58, p 206, 2/18/1921 more deed detail
53 Forestry and Wood Industries, p 243
54 History of Pocahontas County, 1981, p 139
55 History of Pocahontas County, 1981, p 70; Brown, “Greenbank Community History”; Forestry and Wood Industries, p 24456 History of Pocahontas County, 1981, p 494; Brown, “Greenbank Community History”
57 Brown, “Greenbank Community History”; History of Pocahontas County, 1981, p 158; Brown, “North Fork Mill Burns”
58 Brown, “Greenbank Community History”
59 Brown, “Greenbank Community History”; Forestry and Wood Industries, p 24460 Brown, “Greenbank Community History”
61 Forestry and Wood Industries, p 244
62 Brown, “Greenbank Community History”; ——–, Old Up-and-Down Water-Power Saw Mills on the Greenbrier; the name of the stream came from the fact that it was blocked by the dam; father and son both died in 1861, Jacob in October and his son in December
63 Old Up-and-Down Water-Power Saw Mills on the Greenbrier
64 Forestry and Wood Industries, p 244; Brown, “Greenbank Community History”; Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County, p 376; History of Pocahontas County, 1981, p 33
66 Forestry and Wood Industries, p 242
67 Mace, Sketches of Elk, p 125
68 Dave Sharp, interview on 9/2/2001; PCDB 17, p 150,10/13/1885, DB 19, p 153, 1/9/1888, DB 31, p 374, 11/16/1888, DB 42, p 253, 10/20/1910
Logging The Greenbrier Valley 