A History of the Valley of Virginia by Samuel Kercheval (1833; 3rd ed. 1902)

50

FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE VALLEY.

and the accumulation of considerable property and the improvements, before Indian hostilities commenced.

It has already been stated that it was twenty-three years from the first settlement, before the Indians committed any act of outrage on the white people. During this period many pretty good dwelling houses were erected. Joist Hite had built a stone house on the Opequon, which house is now stading, and has a very ancient appearance;* but there are no marks upon it by which to ascertain the time. In 1751, James Wilson erected a stone house which is still standing, and now the residence of Mr. Adam Kern, adjoining, or near the village of Kernstown.

Jacob Chrisman also built a pretty large stone house in the year 1751, now the residence of Mr. Abraham Stickley, about two miles south of Stephensburg. Geo. Bowman and Paul Froman each of them built stones houses, about the same period. The late Col. John Hite, in the year 1753, built a stone house now the dwelling house of Mrs. Barton. This building was considered by far the finest dwelling house west of the Blue Ridge.† Lewis Stephens, in the year 1756, built a stone house, the ruins of which are now to be seen at the old iron works of the late Gen. Isaac Zane. It will hereafter be seen that these several stone buildings became of great importance to the people of the several neighborhoods, as places of protection and security against the attacks of the Indians.

The subject of the early settlement of the valley will be resumed in my next chapter.

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