WVHANCOC-L Archives

From: Janet Waite <>
Subject: Extract from History of Brooke County
Date: Fri, 09 Oct 1998 23:25:29 -0400

"Between 1770 and 1772 three brothers, Jonathan, Israie, and Friend Cox
staked a "Tomahawk Right" in the area that is now Wellsburg. Their claim
started at the mouth of Buffalo Creek, continued north to a point beyond
present Twelfth Street, east to the base of the hill, and westward to the
Ohio River. Since such a claim entitled a settler to 400 acres, this plat
contained 1,200 acres for the three brothers. Later, a cousin, George Cox,
located a claim just north of the tree brother's land. His claim extended
almost to Cross creek. Later Captin VanSwearingen traded George Cox for a
part of this for a rifle (a section from Fifteenth to Twentieth streets
east to present Pleasant Avenue, Wellsburg).

Charles Prather purchased 481 acres of land on March 6, 1788, from John
Cox, heir of Friend Cox, for $3,000. Prather had his newly acquired land
surveyed and a plat made. At the January term of court in 1791 in Ohio
County, Carlestown, Virginia, was incorporated. Trustees for the new town
were: William McMechen, Benjamin Biggs, George Cox, George White, James
Marshall, James Griffith, John Green, John Connell, and Samuel Brown. By
1788, Charlestown had become a trading center. John Mathews and others
brought pioneers from West Newton, Pennsylvania, to Charlestown, on their
way to the Northwest Territory, to gather provisions and supplies.

As settlers continued traveling westward, one, Alexander Wells, who had
come from Baltimore, Maryland, to settle first in Cross Creek Township,
Pennsylvania, decided to stay in Charlestown, Virginia. Acquiring property
by trading with a cousin Richard Owings of Baltimore, he built a trading
post and warehouse at the mouth of Buffalo Creek and rented property from
Charles Prather and others.

The first court in Northern Panhandle was held in Black's cabin in West
Liberty, the county seat, January 16, 1777. In 1797 Brooke County, named
for Governor Robert Brooke of Virginia, became a separate county, and
Charlestown was established as the county seat. The first court was held
at the home of William Sharp March 23, 1797.

By an act of the legislature of Virginia on December 27, 1816, the name of
Charlestown was changed to Wellsburg. The name honors Charles Wells,
son-in-law of Charles Prather.

Hancock County was formed in 1848 from Brooke County with its southern
boundary located at approximately 3669 Main Street in the Hollidays Cove
sectionof Weirton.

Samuel Marks became the first elected mayor of Wellsburg under the
provisions of a new charter of 1855.

Wellsburg celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1941."

This thread:

• Extract from History of Brooke County by Janet Waite <>