When the thirteen original states
were organized, the
Lewis
Wetzel,
called
"the
Boone
of
Northwestern Virginia", was born on the south branch of the
No man of the western border was more
dreaded as an enemy than Lewis Wetzel. He had been
tortured by the Indians and had vowed revenge on the Indians for the death
of his father, who was killed when Lewis was about 23 years of age near
Captina upon his return from Middle Island Creek.
Literally
a man without fear, Lewis Wetzel
was as brave as a
lion, cunning as a fox, "daring where daring was the wiser part, prudent
when discretion was valor's better self. For example, when about thirteen
years of age, Lewis and his brother, Jacob, were captured by the Indians
from their home and made prisoners. Lewis had been hit by a glancing shot
which carried away a small piece of his breastbone, leaving a painful wound.
Even at this tender age Lewis Wetzel was a true
adventurer, brave and cunning; he and Jacob tricked the Indians into
trusting them not to escape, then made their escape after the Indians fell
asleep without having the boys tied up.
Daringly,
the
boys
walked
barefoot
for
several miles but,
realizing that they could not walk as far nor as fast as necessity decreed,
Lewis left Jacob in the forest, returned to the sleeping Indians, and made
off with their moccasins and a gun. The following day the boys reached the
Early
in
his
youth
Lewis
Wetzel
had
acquired
the habit of loading his gun while at
a
full
run
and
hit his
mark.
These
habits
greatly
facilitated his efforts to obtain revenge
on
the Indians for the death of his father. The
fact
that
he
killed
every
Indian
he
was
confronted
with and his amazing personal appearance made Wetzel's scalp most prized
by
the Indians.
Having a very dark complexion, and wild
black
eyes, five feet ten inches tall, very erect,
broad
across the shoulders, with an expansive
chest,
and muscular
arms
and legs,
Lewis
Wetzel
was a striking man. His hair was of
raven
jetness and very luxuriant, reaching
when
combed out below his knees. Of course,
this
would have been a rare scalp for any
Indian.
Early grand jury records disclose that nearly
all
indictments found in the early years were
for
assault and battery, riding in a horse race
on
a public road or for selling "bootleg" liquor.
S. Bruce
Hall, representing
the Wetzel
County
Bar Association as its oldest member,
in
his presentation of a gavel to newly elected
Judge
James F. Shipman said: "The article
which
I am requested to present to you upon
this
occasion is an appropriate one. It is one
of
ancient and honorable use. It is the sincere
hope
of this speaker that you will not have
occasion
to use it frequently. We assure you
that
we have not selected this particular article
by
which to express our welcome for the reason
that
we think you are, or ever will become, a
Knocker.
This article carries sentiment with it.
It brings back to fond memory to some of us
older
members of the bar, the little old square
courthouse,
its large brick pillars in front, its
squatty
cupola, its high rostrum and sawdust
floors
of the courtroom, its stacks of old army muskets, silent reminders of the
carnage of former
days, stowed away in an upstairs room,
like
the rusted toys of Little Boy Blue, of the hundreds of swallows who annually
returned to build
mud nests under its projecting eaves. I
have no doubt, Sir,
but what you will always live up to the highest ideals, and the finest
traditions of the exalted office to which you have been elevated by voters
of this Circuit.
Please accept this mallet from the Wetzel County
Bar Association, in the spirit in which it is
given. It is made from timber of
our old Courthouse. Lift it with care, hammer
with caution, and may neither it nor the Court ever fly off the handle!"
New
The industrial plants of the county are located in New Martinsville area.
These include glassware, sand and gravel plants
and lumber mills.
