Thursday, July 3, 1924
The first Country Life Conference for the Elk Region was held at Mary’s Chapel last Friday, Saturday and Sunday… The community scored high as a desirable place to live. Especially was the score a good one for the first time. A local committee was organized for community welfare, consisting of representatives from the Elk, Slaty Fork, Linwood and Dry Branch neighborhoods.
CHAUTAUQUA
Chautauqua pitched its tents on Tuesday and is now well under way with what is considered the best programs ever given on this circuit. Automobiles are largely used this year in transporting the advance people, tent force and talent. It saves time and is more economical than railroads…
A special patriotic program has been arranged for the Fourth of July. The afternoon session will begin at 2:30 on Friday, the Fourth… Our out of town friends should come to this part of the Chautauqua at least. The afternoon session will out and over in time to catch the 4:08 train and those in automobiles can get home for milking and other chores and be back for the fine program at night.
BIRTHS
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Bernard VanReenan, at Woodrow, a daughter.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Reed Johnson, of Marlinton, a daughter.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Sutphim, of Marlinton, a son.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. James Clutter, a son.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Irvin, at Maternity Hospital, Toledo, a son.
TRAVELING IN THE ALLEGHANIES
It is a mistake to consider that roads in the mountains of West Virginia were inaugurated by the white man. The Indians had a fine system and network of roads as could be desired for the modes of travel in vogue at that time. And it is pretty certain that these roads had reached their highest degree of perfection at the time that the white people first settled in Virginia in the year 1607. After that time, as the Indians were driven back, their roads were abandoned to a great extent. But the earliest explorers set forth on horseback from the Tidewater country and rode westward until they tired of the journey and turned without ever coming to the end of the road…
Probably the most remarkable road in America at the earliest date that history covers was the Seneca Trail that led from New York to Georgia, paralleling the main Alleghany Mountain, some- times on one side of it and sometimes on the other. The Indian called it the Warrior’s Road. It passed through the City of Elkins and turned there to follow up the Tygarts Valley crossing over to the waters of Elk River at Mingo, over Elk mountain near Edray, down Indian Draft, and through Marlinton, winding to the west of Hillsboro, coming along Droop Mountain to cross the Greenbrier River near the county line between Greenbrier and Pocahontas, down Anthonys Creek to the White Sulphur Springs, and from there through Monroe coun-ty to the Bluestone country and from there on in a southerly direction. It was the military road of the Iroquois nation… The Iroquois were the most powerful of the northern native nations. They attained a high state of national life and were perhaps superior to the mass of European people at the first white invasion in New York state. For over 100 years, the Iroquois occupied the mountain portion of the country and white people the seacoast as friendly corresponding countries, and for many years the English government maintained an ambassador at the capital of the Iroquois nation.
After the subduing of the Erles, they became amalgamated with the Iroquois, being distributed among the Senecas, the military branch of the nation, and a law was promulgated, setting aside the country between the east bank of the Ohio River and the top of the Main Alleghany now called West Virginia, as a reserve for the Iroquois, used to from a shield from the powerful tribes in the south and for a hunting ground. A great military road was established, and something like 50 garrison towns lined its 500 mile length.
The one that was in operation in 1754 in this section was at Mingo Flats, and it was a party of warriors from this fort that killed the family of seven, Robert Files, his wife, and five children, at the mouth of Files Creek, where Beverly is located…
There are signs of another fort on this trail, 13 miles south of Mingo Flats, just opposite the church building known as Mary’s Chapel, on Elk in Pocahontas county. At certain seasons of the year, when the light is right, looking down on the meadow, two magic rings can be seen plainly outlined in the grass. This is the site of an old Indian fort. It is on the Old Field Branch of Elk, so called from an Indian clearing at this place.
To be continued…