Pocahontas County's European Pioneers and Settlers
Jacob Marlin and Stephen Sewell were the first English settlers to reach present-day Pocahontas County. In 1749, they built and shared a cabin on the banks of the Greenbrier River near present-day Marlinton. They were discovered in 1751 by Colonel Andrew Lewis who was destined to command one of the armies at the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774. Lewis was surprised to find the men living apart, with Marlin living in the cabin and Sewell living in a near-by hollow of a very large sycamore tree. The men indicated that they had lived together for awhile, but had a religious disagreement (some accounts indicate that the dispute was over the use of immersion during infant baptisms and other accounts indicate that it was a more fundamental disagreement over religious articles of faith). Sewell decided to move out to keep the peace. Sewell later moved about eight miles south and, for a short time, lived in a cave. He then moved further west and, in 1756, was killed by Indians near present-day Rainelle in western Greenbrier County. Sewell's Mountain is named in his honor. The tree which served as Sewell's home stood as a tourist attraction until 1930. Marlin also did not stay in Pocahontas County long. He returned to the east around 1754.
Fearing for their safety, no one attempted a permanent settlement in Pocahontas County during the French and Indian War (1754-1763). Shortly after the war's conclusion, in 1765, John McNeel (or McNell), from Cumberland, Maryland, built a cabin in the Little Levels valley. He was soon joined by Charles and Edward Kennison, friends from Cumberland. In 1784, the three men took part in the Battle of Point Pleasant
We have a fantastic Genealogy Room at the McClintic Library. You are missing a real treat if you don't visit! Pam works there and loves helping people do family research.
Thanks for this Norman. I have been looking for a copy of this for the last three years. The only copy I knew of belonged to a lady in a trailer up Jerico Road. She gave it to the VFW Post , but we didn't have a secure place to keep it , so we decided to take it back to her. I stopped by this summer to borrow it, hoping to scan it, and she said she gave it to Keith Shinaberry to share with the public. Keith was the one that took us to her home and got it for the VFW originally. Maybe this is that long lost copy and he decided to donated it to the library. Or there may be more copies floating around. The story behind the book is that after the war around 1946, the American Legion Post 50 took orders for the book from the members, Like a high school year book, and All the members donated their photos for the project. They only ordered enough copies for those that ordered them. As far as I know this is the only Book of it's kind made for the county. There was a plaque at one time where the Diner sets with the veterans names on it , but not sure what happened to it. There was also one photo taken at the court house before all the selected Veterans of Pocahontas County headed down town together to catch the train, to leave for the war. There is family members at the top of the stairs and two rows of veterans selected for service at the bottom.
