Prepared by Frank U. G. Peck
A Brief History of the People and Settlement of Brushy Ridge, West Virginia, About Four Miles Southwest of Ronceverte.
We will first consider the early settlers of Brushy Ridge, who they were and where they came from. Christopher Hoke, who owned a mill and stillhouse in northwest Brushy Ridge came from Monroe County and settled in Brushy Ridge about 1800. He also owned a colored woman who became the wife of Samuel Willmer. His next wife was Rachel Scruggs. They toiled and struggled together for a livelihood. Another early settler was Mrs. Whanger who lived near where Edgar Payne has built a home.
Michael Rodgers, the father of Ely and Daniel Rodgers, settled in South Brushy Ridge about 1840. He came from Ireland.
The first colored man to make a permanent home in South Brushy Ridge was John More, Sr. He formerly belonged to Gim Nickell. After living in South Brushy Ridge awhile he bought a home in North Brushy Ridge and reared a large family. His heirs own the land yet.
Samuel Moore, a brother of John Moore, bought a home in South Brushy Ridge, moved on it and reared a large family. His heirs own the home place.
In the sixties Daniel C. Boone came from North Carolina. He married Jennie Moore, one of John Moore's daughters, and lived first in South Brushy Ridge and worked in the tan yard for Madison Nickell, he finally bought a home in North Brushy Ridge where he reared a large family.
Another early settler was Isaac Kippers who was a renter. He also reared a large family.
J. H. Burdett married Cathrine Rodgers and they settled on a farm in South Brushy Ridge about the year 1872. They reared a family of thrifty children and built a nice home and accumulated considerable wealth.
J. L. Peck settled on Brushy Ridge about the year of 1876 on a plot of land formerly owned by Richard Smith. He has bought more land, made a nice home and reared a family.
Charley Johnson who married Harriett Moore, a daughter of John Moore, Sr. settled in North Brushy Ridge about 1880. He owned his home and reared one child of his own and two adopted children.
Calvin Curry bought a home in South Brushy Ridge in the eighties. He reared a large family.
Samuel Willmer who came from the Davis settlement in Greenbrier County bought a farm in North Brushy Ridge and moved William Hubbert onto his farm about 1880. He married Rachel Scruggs of Alderson and brought her to his home. They toiled, labored and struggled to build up a nice home and reared a large family.
G. W. Moore who owns a home and formerly lived in South Brushy Ridge is now married to Samuel Willmer's widow. They are getting along nicely on the Pleasant View Farm.
G. W. Haynes who married Elizabeth Haynes bought a home in South Brushy Ridge about 1884. He was a good Mason working at his trade far and near. They toiled and struggled, built up a nice home and reared a large family.
Socrates Haynes who married Ella French of Union, bought a home joining G. W. Haynes. His first wife was Barbra Moore. They reared a large family. He was also a distinguished workman in lumber, brick and stone.
Albert Payne, a carpenter and mason, bought a farm in South Brushy Ridge about 1884. He married Ida Duns Moore of Sink Grove. They have toiled and labored, built up a nice home and reared a large family.
Benjamin White married Rosa Kelley and bought a home in South Brushy Ridge. He then sold it and bought a piece of land in North Brushy Ridge bordering on the river. Here they have toiled, built a nice home and reared a large family. He purchased his last home about 1884.
Henry Johnson of Covington, Virginia, married Margaret Moore about 1887. They own part of the John Moore place. They have a good home.
Mathew Moore who married Cornelia Wood of Virginia settled on and owns a part of the John Moore place. They have toiled and labored, built up a nice home and reared a large family. They settled there in the eighties.
Samuel Gillbreath married Edora bought a home in South Brushy Ridge in the eighties. They reared a large family. They were very industrious people. He was a good blacksmith.
James M. Moore bought a home in South Brushy Ridge about 1888. He married Eliza Dunsmore of Sinks Grove. They labored and reared a large family and built a good home.\\William Moore bought a farm in South Brushy Ridge, married, reared a family, and through labor and toil has built a nice home where he and his wife, Bettie, and grandchildren are living comfortably.
J. D. Haynes who married Lonrax Moore settled in South Brushy Ridge 1896. They have reared a large family. He is an accomplished workman in lumber, brick, stone, and concrete. Concrete construction is his main and leading occupation.
John Patton married and bought a home in North Brushy Ridge. He has built a nice home, reared a large family and is a successful farmer.
About 1901 Robert Patton bought in South Brushy Ridge and settled. He bought from William Hoke an earlier settler.
Aikin Smith bought in South West Brushy Ridge has run a grist mill. He then built a store which he is running at present.
Edward Morris bought a home in North Brushy Ridge and reared a family of two girls. Miss Marry married Mr. Disc and lives near Ronceverte. Miss Ella married Carl Hoke and lives on the home place.
Westley Hoke bought a place in North Brushy Ridge and reared a large family. He was one of our early settlers.
Sarah Bland bought a home in North Brushy Ridge and reared a family.
J. C. Moore married Nannie Tiffany. They bought a place in North West Brushy Ridge about 1896 and settled there. They bought more land and now own a good home.
James Huffman bought some of the Edward Morris tract of land and lived on it awhile. It was then bought by Joe Fallis Moore who lived on it with his family a long time. He finally moved to Covington, Virginia.
Frederick Douglas bought land in North Brushy Ridge about 1898. He married Angie Boone, built a nice home and reared a large family. He is a mechanic and very progressive.
Frank U. G. Peck married Lucy Boone, bought a home in North Brushy Ridge in 1893 and reared a large family. He is a teacher and farmer.
William Lucas settled North Brushy Ridge about 1902. He married Daisy White. They have reared a large family. He is a mechanic.
Robert Allen bought and settled in North Brushy Ridge 1904. He is a leading blacksmith and goes to Ronceverte each day to work at his trade.
George Lewis married and bought a home in North Brushy Ridge about 1902. He and his wife reared a family.
Gillie Lewis married Edward Watkins and they are living at the home place.
Johnie Fortner married Martha Moore. They bought a home joining the Lewis place and settled on it about 1906.
William Scott married Pearly and settled near Charley Johnson for awhile. He then moved his family on the river.
W. J. Boone married Lida Fortner. They lived in North Brushy Ridge for awhile then moved to the coal mines where they lived for 28 years. He and his family have returned to South Brushy Ridge and are living at the Curry home.
Clifford Curry married Laura Johnson about 1906. They lived at the Henry Johnson home until his death by accident.
Oliver Manuel married Edora Moore and they lived at the Samuel Moore home in South Brushy Ridge for a number of years. They reared a family.
John Tiffany married Onie Moore. They built a home near J. C. Moore's and are rearing a family.
James E. Steele came about 1897. Afterwards he married Sidney Willmer. They have built a home near E. E. Steels and are rearing a family.
E. E. Steel and his wife bought a home from Houston Steel and settled on it about 1902 where they lived nicely till 1923.
James Hunter Moore bought a place from Mr. Rowlison in North West Brushy Ridge in 1907 where he is living and taking care of his aged father and mother.
D. J. Boone married Della Gillbreath. In 1914 he bought a home in North Brushy Ridge where he settled. They are rearing a family.
Isom Gillbreath married Josie Manuel. They bought a home in North Brushy Ridge where they lived for a short while.
W. T. Peck married Ada Arnold of Muddy Creek and is living in North Brushy Ridge with his father. They have built a nice home.
James Stanton married Zora White. They built a home near the big cliff on her father's place.
James White married Bertha Arnold of Muddy Creek. They built a home near his father. He is a workman of distinction. They are rearing a family.
Lewis Allen has bought a place near D. J. Boone. They are rearing a family.
Harvy Gillbreath bought a home in South Brushy Ridge where he and his mother are living now.
John Lovings married Cora Manuel. He has bought a place in North Brushy Ridge and is preparing to build.
Walker Moore married Emma Long. They are buying the Daniel Boone place in North Brushy Ridge and are rearing a family.
Edgar Payne married Miss Alice of New York. He built a nice home in South Brushy Ridge where they are living and rearing a family.
Allen Haynes married Emma Moore and bought the Socrates Hayne's property in South Brushy Ridge where he and his wife are living and rearing a family.
Simpson Moore married Nancy Burke. They are living at the J. M. Moore home.
Oscar Willmer married Mazie Haynes. They live at J. D. Haynes.
Lacy Moore married Josie Boone. They live sometimes at William Moore's and sometimes on the river.
Alphia Boone married Bula Dickerson. They have lived here but now live down on the river.
The following are transit population of Brushy Ridge. Richard Peck, Anderson Bundy, Peter Jones, Housten Kipper, Henry Grayson, William Hale and Masfield Haynes, Scruggs and Mary White.
The church and school have played an important part in the development of Brushy Ridge. Each began about a half century ago. Today we have two churches and a graded school.
Brushy Ridge where sixty years ago the panther was a skulking visitor, the bear growled, the wolf yelped, the wildcat and catamount screamed, and the owl hooted has become highly developed and modernized.
Many young people have gone away to higher institutions of learning and are making good in the various walks of life.
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