BIOGRAPHIES, Greenbrier County, WV - "S"

The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 625-626

COLONEL JOHN STUART was the most famous pioneer of Greenbrier County, the founder of a family of conspicuous citizenship there, and his descendants are still represented in that section of the state.

His father, David Stuart, was born in Scotland a connection of the House of Stuarts, and participants in the movement to place Charles Edward Stuart on the English throne, a movement that culminated in failure at the battle of Culloden in 1746. David Stuart came to America soon after that battle, settling on the Shenandoah River in August County, Virginia. He was a personal friend of Governor Robert Dinwiddie, who appointed him in 1755 county lieutenant of Augusts County, with the rank of colonel. He was well qualified to serve this important office. David Stuart died in 1767, having been drowned while crossing a branch of the Shenandoah River. His wife was Margaret Lynn Paul, widow of John Paul, a granddaughter of the Laird of Loch Lynn, Scotland, a niece of Margaret Lynn, wife of Col. John Lewis and the mother of General Andrew and Col. Charles Lewis, heroes of the Battle of Point Pleasant.

Col. John Stuart was the only son of David and Margaret Lynn Stuart, and was born at Hebron in Augusta County, March 17, 1749. He exhibited at an early age extraordinary vigor both in body and mind. By the time he was seventeen years of age he was said to have acquired an excellent education both from books and the affairs of life. While young he participated in a number of surveying and prospecting expeditions to the west and north of the then permanent settlements in August County, which brought him into contact with men of various classes and character. On these expeditions he saw much of Indian life.

All of the attempted settlements in Greenbrier having failed prior to that time, in the year 1769 an expedition was organized by citizens of Augusta and adjoining counties, having for its purpose a permanent settlement in that beautiful and inviting country afterwards called Greenbrier County. Of this company John Stuart, then only twenty years of age, was a member. These pioneers came to Greenbrier in the spring of 1769. After arriving in this wild country the settlers found it necessary to organize for definite course of action, on account of developments to be made in their new home, for protection against the Indians and the many dangers by which they were surrounded. John Stuart was chosen their chief adviser and first officer.

He first located near where the town of Frankford now stands, where he built his first home, overlooking a beautiful view towards the east. This place he called "Grunble Thorp." Here he erected the first mill built in Greenbrier, which was propelled by a subterranean stream of considerable volume dowing through a channel cut out by the Indians, to which they had access through the mouth of a large cave. The dam, a large part of which is still standing, was built of stone, and located about 200 feet from the entrance to the cave. The mill itself stood just outside of the mouth of the cave.

He soon moved from his first residence to what is now known as the "Old Stuart Place," about four miles below Lewisburg on the Fort Spring road. Here he first erected a log house, in which he lived until the year 1789, when he built a large stone house of the old English style, which is now the oldest house in the country. This building is still in a state of good preservation and is at this time the residence of his great-grandson, Samuel Lewis Price. Here John Stuart lived for many years, leading an active, busy life, engaged in vanona occupations and acting for the settlers as adviser and chief defender against the Indians.

Within a quarter of a mile from the place where the stone house was afterwards built there was erected what was first known as "Fort Stuart" and afterwards called "Fort Spring," at the spot where the old Fort Spring Church now stands, which was placed under the command and supervision of Colonel Stuart. At the time this fort was built a large number of settlers of Greenbrier County lived near and it was used as a refuge during several Indian attacks, of which no mention is made in history.

Colonel John Stuart commanded one of the companies from Greenbrier County in the expedition commanded by General Andrew Lewis at the battle of Point Pleasant in 1774. After that battle, on account of the heavy loss of officers, he was put in command of a large portion of the army. The last of the desperate attacks made by the Indians upon the settlers of Greenbrier occurred in 1778, when a band of Indians crossed over from beyond the Ohio River, surprised and surrounded the settlers of Fort Donally, in what is now known as Radus Valley. The fort was located about eight miles northwest of Ft. Union, where Lewisburg now stands. Colonel Stuart led the enforcement from Ft. Union, raised the siege and drove the Indians off. Within a few days after this attack he was able to raise a sufficient force to drive and frighten the Indians out of the country.

Colonel John Stuart waa appointed clerk of the County of Greenbrier, which was organized in 1776. He was appointed in 1780. He was a member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1788, and was a strong advocate for the ratification of the Federal constitution. He was appointed colonel of the Seventy-ninth Regiment of Militia in 1793. He and his wife, Agatha, were large contributors for the building of the old stone church at Lewisburg in 1796. Col. John Stuart possessed a large library for a pioneer, was a man of splendid literary attainments and a finished scholar, was a member of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, and in 1797 he wrote "Memoirs of Indian Wars and other Occurrences," which remained in manuscript until published in 1833 by the Virginia Historical Society. This is one of the important sources of history for everything connected with the early settlement of the Greenbrier. He also left another historical work, entitled "A Narrative," also descriptive of conditions in Greenbrier and the great Kanawha Valley. Colonel Stuart possessed great executive and financial ability, and amassed a large fortune for his time. Some of the lands he acquired are still owned by his descendants. He resigned his post as clerk of the County Court December 22, 1807. The first clerk's office was built by him in his own yard, and that building is still standing. He also gave the site upon which the first Court House was erected. Col. John Stuart died August 18, 1823, in his seventy-fifth year.

November 18, 1776, he married Mrs. Agatha Frogg, widow of Col. William Frogg, who was killed at the battle of Point Pleasant. She was a granddaughter of Col. John Lewis, and a daughter of Thomas Lewis, who was a brother of General Andrew and Col. Charles Lewis. The four children of Col. John Stuart and wife were: Margaret Lynn, born December 31, 1777, and married Andrew Lewis; Jane Lewis Stuart, born February 16, 1780, married Robert Crockett; Charles Augustus Stuart, born April 23, 1782, married Elizabeth Robinson; and Lewis Stuart, born May 14, 1784.

Lewis Stuart, second son of Col. John Stuart, succeeded to the possession of the old Stuart home place, and lived there all his life. He served as clerk of the County Court as successor to his father from September 22, 1807, until June 1, 1830. He was commissioned the first clerk of the Superior Court of Law and Chancery of Greenbrier County, April 17, 1809, and held that office until 1831. Aside from his official duties he maintained a generous home, was fond of good horses, had a genius for friendship and is said to have been one of the best loved men in the whole Greenbrier country.

October 15, 1807, he married Sarah Lewis, daughter of Col. John Lewis of Bath County, and granddaughter of Col. Charles Lewis, who was killed at Point Pleasant. To their marriage were born five sons and five danghters: John, born July 26, 1814 Charles A., born June 5, 1818, Lewis, born September 7, 1820, all of whom went West where John died February 19, 1838, Charles, July 4, 1888, and Lewis, December 19, 1860. Henry Stuart born October 31, 1824, lived on a farm at Richlands Greenbrier County, and died September 5, 1902. He married, July 12, 1871, Nannie Watkins. Andrew Stuart born March 12, 1827, lived at the old Stuart place near Fort Spring Church, and died in 1892. He married Sallie Cabell. Elizabeth Stuart, born January 13, 1809, died August 9, 1819. Rachel Stuart, born May 30, 1816, became the wife of A. W. G. Davis, and they lived near Fort Spring Station. Agnes Stuart, born September 2, 1812, died January 15, 1899. She married Charles S. Peyton, and they lived at Richlands. Margaret Stuart, born September 15, 1822, and died in 1903, married Col. James W. Davis, and they lived on a farm half a mile below the old Stuart place. Jane Stuart, born September 17, 1810, was married February 6, 1837, to Governor Samuel Price. She was woman of remarkable intellect and great personal charm. She died August 14, 1873.

After Lewis Stuart's death Beau Desert and the large estate connected with it remained in the possession and under the management of his widow Sarah Lewis Stuart, until after her death, which occurred March 5, 1853. She was born in February, 1790. She was a famous beauty, and until her death was noted for her striking personal appearance. She was fond of the social side of life, and maintained as a widow the hospitality which had characterized the home during the life of her husband. She was also a woman of remarkable strength of character, of a cultivated, forceful and vigorous mind, and she displayed remarkable executive ability in the management of the estate.

CHRISTOPHER SYDENSTRICKER - born April 25, 1846, in Greenbrier County, was a son of Andrew and Frances (COFFMAN) SYDENSTRICKER, who were natives of Greenbrier County, the former born March 9, 1813, and the latter born May 24, 1813. In the last year of the civil war Christopher SYDENSTRICKER was conscripted into the Confederate service, and he served in the 26th Virginia Battalion, from November 17, 1864, until the end of the war. May 19, 1869, in Rich Hollow, this county, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth T. JOHNSON, and their children, six living and one deceased, were born: John Wesley, February 26, 1870; Eugene, September 9, 1872; Mary Margaret, March 9, 1875; Hubert, April 10, 1877; Malinda F., December 11, 1878; Raymond M., February 22, 1881, died May 24, 1882; Wallace R., march 15, 1883. Christopher SYDENSTRICKER's wife was born in Rich Hollow, May 21, 1849. John Treble JOHNSON, her father, was born in Amherst County, Virginia, April 9, 1807, and her mother, whose maiden name was Caroline TUCKWILLER, was born in Greenbrier County, May 28, 1817, and died in this county, at rich Hollow, November 13, 1873. Mr. SYDENSTRICKER has been an active Sunday school worker for sixteen years, and is still engaged in the cause of the Master, untiring and zealous in his service. He has been a farmer since returning from the war, and is located in Falling Spring District, with post office address at Frankford, Greenbrier County, West Virginia.

Biography on James H. SYDENSTRICKER

Taken from the newspaper, "The Odessa Democrat", Odessa, Lafayette County, Missouri, Friday, 23 Nov 1923, Vol. 41, Front page.

HIS HORSE SHOT UNDER HIM

OLD CONFEDERATE SOLDIER HAD EXCITING EXPERIENCES IN CONFLICT.

There are no better citizens in Lafayette county than James. H. Sydenstricker, who lives at Second and Chestnut streets in Odessa. He was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia (now West Virginia) October 27, 1841, therefore he was eighty-two years old last month. Mr. Sydenstricker is a son of Michael and Hannah (Hapstonstall) Sydenstricker, a native of Germany, who in an early day came to America and settle in Virginia.

James H. Sydenstricker grew up on a farm in Virginia and early began to make his own way in the world and received his education in the log school houses of that period. When the war between the States began he espoused the cause of the South and in June 1861 he enlisted in Company D. fourteenth Virginia Cavalry, and was an active participant in the battles of Cannafax Ferry, Roanoke, (N.C.) Fisher's Hill, Winchester, Martinsburg, Gettysburg, Spencerville, Opequon, Harrisburgh and Front Royal. He was captured in November, 1864, and taken to Point Lookout, Maryland, and discharged from prison the latter part of May, 1865.

Constantly exposed to danger and privations, Mr. Sydenstricker was fortunate in never being wounded, but he was captured four times during the time he served the Confederacy. He was a Corporal when taken prisoner first at Roanoke, North Carolina. After 14 days he was exchanged. Later he was captured at Lewisburgh but escaped; then made a prisoner at Lynchburgh, but again escaped, and in the last encounter had six bullet holes shot through his overcoat and his horse shot from under him. At the close of the war Mr. Sydenstricker entered upon the duties of farming until 1866 when he went to Carrollton and worked in a furnace for six months, making oil. In July, 1866, he went to Vinton county, Ohio where for three years he worked on a farm.

In September 1869, Mr. Sydenstricker came to Missouri and located in Lafayette county, near Mayview. Here he bought a farm and by working hard soon began to prosper.

Mr. Sydenstricker was married to Miss Sarah E. Whitsitt, a native of Jassemine county, Kentucky, and a daughter of Preston and Catherine (Hunter). The Whitsitt family came to Lafayette county in 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Sydenstricker have 7 living children as follows: Rev. S. V. Sydenstricker of Fulda, Minnesota, Clemmons Sydenstricker, Albert Sydenstricker, Mrs. Ed Stanfield, Mrs. Frank Ramsey, Mrs. G.C. Peerson and Mrs. Will Hannah, all of this section. They also have 15 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Since 1871 Mr. Sydenstricker has been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and on September 15, 1880, he was ordained a ruling elder of that denomination and is still holding that office. He is always ready to aid his church in any way possible. Politically Mr. Sydenstricker is an ardent Democrat and although past 82 years of age, he still takes great interest in all things pertaining to the good of his community.

Transcribed and submitted by Valerie Crook, vfcrook@trellis.net, Darla Ruebush, darbush@wizrealm.com and Ed Johnson, EDEAJ@aol.com , 1998.

Source: Hardesty, Henry H. Hardesty's Historical and Geographical
Encyclopedia. New York: H.H. Hardesty and Company, 1884.
Rpt. in West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia. Ed. Jim Comstock.
Richwood: Comstock, 1974.