Marsha, Excuse me, I remembered just as soon as I sent the message that the name of the neighbor up the hollar was Flesher, not Waybright. The Waybrights lived next door to my uncles and yes, I visited them too. Their son, Ocie, was my playmate. Diane "Marsha L. Fuller" wrote: > For those of you who were interested in the Colaw papers that went with > the photo of Cyrus Colaw I offered a few weeks ago, here is the > transcription. Anyone who is trying to prove Revolutionary War service > for Henry Wimer might get a boost from this, too: > > These papers were in the possession of Grace Boggs Dyer when Marsha L. > Fuller borrowed them to transcribe in 2000. > > The following papers were in an enveloped postmarked “Martinsburg, > W.VA., May 6, 1935, 10 AM” and addressed to “Mrs. Gordon Boggs, > Franklin, West Va.” In the upper left-hand corner of the envelope is > written, “Colaw History by David E. Colaw”. > > The words in brackets were lightly crossed out by the writer. I have > included them because, in some instances, they make the sentence > logical. The handwriting is quite readable, although it is in pencil > and did not photocopy well. > > “Reminiscence of Cyrus Colaw who was born Nov. 6, 1814 and died in > January 1915 at the age of 100 years. He retained his [a remarkable > mind] faculties in a remarkable way until the end and often spoke of his > experiences in the fertile valley of Crabbottom, Va. where he was born > and spent his entire life being a good citizen and a prosperous farmer > and stockman. > date Nov. 3, 1934 > [An account of the past as given from memory by Mr. & Mrs. David E. > Colaw of the past as related to them by David’s father, Cyrus Colaw who > died Jan. __ ___ [there were two dashes here] at the age of 100 years.] > He said, “My [Great] grandfather Frederick Colaw lived in Lancaster Co. > Penn. His son George Colaw, who was my [grand] father came to Highland > Co. Virginia [when he was] a pioneer settler three miles north of what > is now the town of Crabbbottom, Va. > He came with his brother Jacob Colaw in the year of 1800. IN that day > only one son in the family was educated – if the family was not able > financially to send them all to school. > My [Grand] father George was selected in his family as the one to > receive the special favor so he went back to Pa. where he spent his > alloted time in school and became a well trained student, especially [in > his efficiency] as a good reader. His love for reading gave him a full > and ready mind so that he became quite [an efficient] a noted and > helpful citizen. [After his school work was finished] He returned to > Crabbottom, Virginia to make his home and to raise his family. He > selected this section of country in which to live because he had > discovered the deep fertility of its soil. It then had no name but from > the wild crabapple trees that he found growing so numerous and some so > large as a man’s body he named it “Crabapple Bottom”. The name > continued to live within the valley for many years but finally, was > shortened to that of the present name of Crabbottom, VA. > He and his bro. Jacob bought the land together but later divided their > tracts. > Jowell Hidy the surveyor at that time did the work for them. Another > brother named Abraham Colaw settled about the same time at a place then > called Sugar Creek in Fayette Co., Ohio, where he became a large land > owner. > I went out to visit my Uncle Abe in 1840 and rode horseback across the > mountains, and forded some very deep rivers. The famous old wooden > bridge across Cheat River had never then even been dreamed of. > When I came to the Cheat River I was told by Soldier White who lived > near the [crossing] ford that if the water was up over a certain rock, > it would be impassible to cross and as I found the waves dashing madly > over said rock I was compelled to spend the night at the home of Mr. > White, where I was kindly treated and being able to ford the swollen > stream the next day, I reached home in due time. This was in the spring > of 1840 after I had spent the winter in Ohio. This was the fartherest I > was ever away from home and I was glad to be back safe. > I remember the Cheat as being a large river on a mountain and I think t > hat its source was about 30 miles from where I forded it. > In 1837 [my father] I helped Crozet the French engineer work on the > Staunton and Parkersburg Pike, and [his] our walls built back of the > Lantz Mountain may yet be seen. While working on this road the hands > lived in tents and cooked for themselves and when meat got scarce George > Tracy being a good marksman was always the one selected to go out to > shoot a deer. Game was plenty and it did not cost much to live. > The valleys at that time were covered with huge trees, which were cut > and burned so as to make room for grazing lands. > When we traveled from here to Beverley we went trough the thick woods > by a narrow trail. Once I was sent to New Market to get medicine for my > mother when she was very ill. > I rode horseback and carried home my purchases in a pair of saddle > bags. > I have as a keepsake a $4.00 Continental bill printed on tough heavy > paper which my mother gave me. She died in 1856. It had been paid to > her father, Henry Wimer for his services in the Revolutionary War, and > she always prized it very highly.” > > Included with these papers was a photo postcard of a man and a woman > with this inscription in Elsie’s handwriting in blue ink on the back, > “Cyrus Colaw on his 100th birthday, Nov. 6, 1914, (he died 1915).” > In pencil is written, “Mrs. Elsie Boggs from Mrs. Cyary[?] Colaw. I > pined [pinned?] that flower on dear old gravel dady. Aunt May” [It > looks as if Cyrus has a flower on his lapel in the photo – perhaps this > is what she is referring to.] > > Another sheet of paper included in the envelope reads, > > Jacob Thomas and Solomon Garber – funeral Oct. 23. > > Geo. Snincher [?] preached > Geo. Hammer’s II[?] funeral at the home, stepped on pin and Aunt M. > picked it up. > > Mrs. Emma Wier > Spencer S.D. > – Hy. Colaw’s daughter. > She has 5 sons , dust 2 ft. deep. > > Mar. 20, 1880 Mary married Ent [or Eut] > > Wamsley England 1770 > > Bradshaw > James B. Md. Mary O. Randabush > “ Mary Wamsley > Children > Robb O. > Chas. P > Harry L. > Jas son of Jno. > > To see Aunt Mary > Oct. 8, 1934 > Wm. Gum md Carry Hildabrand > Prayer > for Aunt Mary > > Mrs. Earlie Snyder (Lutie[?] Colaw) sister to Jno. M. Colaw > > Mrs. Anderson Colaw > nee (Nutter) > > Oct. 4, 1881 > Aunt M., Walter & Danny & Lou Colaw, Phebe & J & E, Ann at Dice’s > > 1934 > 1881 > 53 > > -- > Marsha L. Fuller > Harper Family Website http://www.fred.net/mfuller