Barbour County Families
The Teter Family of
West Virginia -- Barbour County Branch
Submitted by June Quinn
Shelburne, VT
From The History of West Virginia Vol.III, 1923.
The name Teter is a corruption of "Dietrick", the true spelling of the name. The Dietricks were in
the Valley of Virginia at the close of the American Revolution, and are said to have come from
Pennsylvania to settle in Virginia. From the Valley of Virginia, branches of the family moved
westward. One branch going into Pendleton County, that is now West Virginia. In Barbour
County the family were pioneers. Teter's Creek was named as early as 1783, and four years later
George Teter acquired title to land there, evidence of which is found in West Virginia land
books.
However, the first settler of old Randolph county, on theWest bank of the Tygarts Valley River,
and in what is now the County of Barbour, was Jacob Teter. It was about 1800 that he came to
Barbour County from Pendleton County. He was a son of Philip Teter, whose other children
were: Joseph, Isaac, James, Nancy, and perhaps, Mary. There is a record of a Mary "Tedricks"
who was married in Randolph County to Enoch Osborne in 1803. And, in 1811 Solomon
Yeager
married Mary, daughter of Jacob Teter.
The Great-grandfather, Jacob Teter, settled on the West side of the Tygarts Valley River at what
is now the town of Belington. When he came from Pendleton County he was accompanied by a
boy. He carried a gun and was followed by his dog. He and the boy built a little cabin not far
from the River bank. This log building was still standing in 1890. The well at the site is still
marked by a depression near the Belington Westside school building. Mr. Teter acquired a large
tract of land, including all the present Westside of Belington. After his home was built he
rejoined his family.
When he started back to Pendleton to bring his family to the Belington home the Tygarts Valley
River was high and he built a raft to cross it. On the raft, he put the boy together with his dog
and gun, and a supply of food, and tying one end of a withe to the craft, he put the other end
between his teeth. Swimming across, he pulled the raft and landed the cargo safely on the other
side. Jacob Teter was a sturdy frontiersman who cleared much of his land from virgin forest.
Abundant prosperity attended his labors.
He erected a comfortable home on his farm, planted an orchard, and from some of the Apple and
Cherry trees of this orchard, his grandson has eaten fruit. Though all the trees have now
disappeared.
As one of the first settlers, he built and operated the first grist mill. That mill continued to serve
the second and third generations.
He was active in founding the first Methodist Church in the area. Evidence of his deep piety is
found in the story that the only method by which some boys were able to capture a prize melon
from his prize melon patch was to wait until he was engaged in prayer. He told the boys that if
they could steal that special melon without his detecting them, they were welcome to it.
He founded a strong race of people; having been twice married. Among his sons were Jacob,
Joseph, and Isaac, and among his daughters Mrs. Mary Yeager, Mrs. Stonehurst, and Mrs.
Patrick McCann.
His son Jacob Jr. was born in the log cabin mentioned in 1804. His older brother Joseph was
born in Pendleton County in 1796.
Jacob Teter became one of the substantial farmers in the County of Barbour. His farm being half
a mile further up the Tygarts Valley River than the old home.
June George Quinn is the gggg granddaughter of Jacob Teter one of the earliest residents of
Barbour County and a great granddaughter of Reuben T. George. A native of Barbour County,
she was raised in Barbour County, attended schools in Belington, and still
has a fondness for the area. She now lives in Shelburne, Vermont, but
returns to WVA as often as possible.
Contact her at:
7152 The Terraces
Shelburne, VT 05482
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