The Rev. James Gilruth died before July 12, 1873, a year after publishing these stories, in Davenport, Iowa. He was an abolitionist and preacher of the Gospel. More on him later. June 20, 1872
In my last, I closed with an anecdote expressive of the times. In this, I resume the history of the settlements. Next above BOONE settled John HOCKADAY. He came to these parts a single man. He was said to possess $3,000 in cash. He kept a school for one term in an old cabin between Thos. HOODS and Jesse BOONE. He bought a tract of unimproved land. (I think it was part of the BOONE tract) built a hewed log double house, with an open entry between, nearly as wide as either end was long shingle roof and brick chimneys.
I mention these things because brick chimneys and shingle roofs were not yet common in these parts, and the plan of the house, on the whole, was rather novel. HOCKADAY obtained the Clerkship of the Court of Greenup County and kept his office in his own house, a few miles above Greenupsburg. After living here for some years, he married Margaret DONATHAN, a young lady of a good family and of respectable character.
On settling here, HOCKADAY commenced opening and improving his land, in which he succeeded to a considerable extent. He was considered a good shot with the rifle and enjoyed, as a gentleman, the chase and the fishing rod but did not let them interfere with business. Of his children, I have no distinct knowledge, as they were born, after I ceased to be familiar with these parts. He had a nephew named Irwin, who lived with him and wrote in the office. He owned some slaves and was never known to use his tongue or his talents to the injury of others. Few men sustained a more amiable and worthy character than John HOCKADAY. I understood that he died of consumption.
Not far from 1802 or 1803, next above settled John HOW; his wife’s name I have forgotten. Their children’s names were Joseph, Rebecca, Ellenore, Sarah, William, Daniel, and John (all born before they came here.) Joseph married Rachel HOOD; Rebecca married James WORNOCK; Ellenore married Roland CORNELIUS, which the younger members of the family married I never knew. Daniel went to the State prison for killing his father’s Negro man. William now owned several slaves. After living here for some years, he moved back a few miles among the hills and opened a new farm which they called Willow Cave; HOW was strongly attached to the British form of government, and even while living here, he took a trip to Canada, on foot, to see the country, and what were the prospects of settling there.
After How moved back from the river, the place was occupied by Reuben DAWSON. His wife’s maiden name was __ SLAUGHTER. But she died before the family moved here. Their children’s names were Gabriel, Fanny, Arthur, Henry, and Joseph. None of them were married while they lived here. Fanny was considered a very handsome young lady. DAWSON lived by farming Ð was a slave owner. About 1806 or 1807, he built the first keelboat on either side of the Ohio River between Portsmouth and Gallipolis. She was about 9 tons burden. After living here for some years, the family scattered, and the farm fell into the hands of John HOCKADAY.
Next above was a 1,000-acre tract. This was bought and settled on by L. WILCOX (a brother of Mrs. NICHOLSON). His wife’s name I never knew. Their children’s names I have forgotten, except their two oldest sons, Leven and Loid. WILCOX, failing to make payment for this tract of land, left, and the last I knew of the family, they were living on the Scioto, some miles from Portsmouth.
After he left, the place was bought by Martin SMITH, who settled there in about 1808. I never knew Mrs. Smith’s name. Their children’s names were Robert, William, Wooton, Elizabeth, Nancy, Creed, and, I think, John. Robert and William were named when the SMITH family moved here. Of Wooten’s marriage, I have no knowledge. Elisabeth married John C. KOUNTZ. Nancy married William WARD. Of the marriage of the younger children, I have no knowledge.
Martin SMITH owned more slaves than any other man in the county. He was a farmer and employed his force in the improvement of his land. The days of bear, elk, and deer hunting had nearly passed away when he settled here. He, however, showed a considerable taste for fowling and small games as a recreation. The next above, and just below Tailor’s Run, settled Benjamin ULIN. His wife’s name was Catherine. Their elder children’s names were Benjamin, John, Nancy, and Samuel. There were several younger children whose names I never knew. ULIN was a farmer who owned one man slave.
The ULINS lived here several years, then moved back two or three miles among the hills. Benjamin married the widow of Roland CORNELIUS, her that was Ellenore HOW). John married a lady up above Marietta named Harriet FRAIZER. Of the other marriages in the family, I am not posted. John became an itinerant Methodist preacher, and after traveling for several years, as an acceptable minister, he died of cholera down in Miami country.
Next, above settled Reuben RUCKER. His wife’s name I never knew. Their children’s names were Nancy, Ambrose, and Edwin (all born before they moved here). What became of this family has entirely escaped my memory. RUCKER was a man of respectable character and, I think, for some time, acted as a Sheriff of the county. He was commonly known by the title of Major RUCKER.
Next, but back in the bottom, settled Mr. FERRIL. His wife’s maiden name was ______CORNELIUS. They had one daughter named Margaret Ð. She was a pious member of the Baptist church. Mr. FERRIL was a farmer, owned slaves, and was considered a first-class citizen.
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