Prepared by Mrs. John Kyle
The history of this community dates back to the land grant given by and surveyed by George Washington in 1770. Said lands being given to soldiers who fought in the French and Indian War, and the lands were purchased and acquired in various ways from their descendants by the parties mentioned in this history.
Situated as we are between two of the oldest towns in West Virginia, Guyandotte founded in 1810, and Barboursville in 1813, our community is full of interesting historical incidents. I called upon one of the oldest surviving inhabitants who at the age of eighty-five has a remarkably clear memory of old settlers, beginning with himself Mr. Lewis Wintz showed me an old deed dated 1833 conveying to one Alexander Roberts seventy-five acres of land now known as the Wintz Hollow. It was conveyed to Robert by Lett W. Tazewell then Governor of Virginia. Mr. Wintz purchased the land in 1860 making him one of the oldest land owners in this community having been owner of the land for sixty-three years with no change of ownership.
Probably the oldest settlers in this part of Cabell County were the Cox Family. William T. Cox who was born in Buckingham County, Virginia, in 1790 moved to Mason County, West Virginia, in 1811, married Sarah White, and moved to the Baker Farm where he lived until 1855. He then bought the Cox Landing Farm from Adam Woodyard. Mr. Cox was the father of eleven sons and one daughter, and was evidently not a believer in race suicide. The present site of Cox Landing at the time of purchase was covered with very valuable timber which was used as fuel to make steam to run boats on the Ohio River. The land is still in possession of the Cox family. The children of John Cox, son of William T. Cox, make the fifth generation of Cox's to own this land. William T. Cox was one of our first citizens to come out for prohibition. He signed the pledge reproduced here, in 1876.
National Christian TEMPERANCE UNION
"With malice toward none and Charity to all."
I, the undersigned, do pledge my word and honor,
God Helping Me
to abstain from ALL intoxicating liquors as a beverage, and that I will by all honorable means encourage others to abstain.
WM. T. COX.
The Herrenkohl family whose father Thomas Herrenkohl was a native of Germany and came to America about the time of the Civil War purchased a tract of land next to Cox place from Dyke Bowen who originally bought it from Dud Holderby. The tract from Bowen's to Dunkle's was the Old Holderby farm which was bought from Captain Morgan by the Honorable Ed Kyle.
Mr. Kyle was born in County Clare, Ireland, and immigrated to America at the age of eight years. Mr. Kyle was in many ways a remarkable man. He was educated in WheeIing and was assistant auditor to the first state auditor, Samuel Crane, and assisted in opening the books of the New State of West Virginia. Mr. Kyle bought land amounting to 800 acres from the Holderby heirs, Bob Holderby, and also the three Holderby girls who married men by the names of Cole, Buffeyton, and Jenkins in 1855. Mr. Kyle was twice elected Sheriff of Cabell County and raised the largest crop of wheat that was ever raised in Cabell County, 18000 bushels, at one time. Mr. Kyle deeded land for the first free school in his neighborhood. He also gave the land, for the site of, helped build the Olive Baptist Church, and the furnishings of the church were paid for by Mr. Kyle alone.
The old Joe Cox Homestead was built in 1856 by his grandfather, William T. Cox. The old Grandpa Herrenkohl house that stands near Seven Mile trestle was built by Bill Joy in 1836. The old log house built by Captain Bukey in I850 is still standing, having been moved from its original place to a spot just opposite the Old Kyle cemetery. The log house now owned and occupied by John Kyle was built in 1859 by a man named Maupin. These four old buildings are probably the oldest in this district; built out of poplar logs, and hewed by hand, they are sound as the day they were built except the floors, roofs, etc., have been renewed.
That this community was often the former hunting grounds of Savages is proved by numerous Indian relics found from time to time. The bottoms were found covered with old tomahawks, arrow-points, etc., by the old settlers. The wide cultivated fields a hundred years ago were almost virgin forest. At a later date the finest walnut timber in the country was shipped to England after being cut and hauled by the sons of Ed Kyle, Sr.
The younger generation have a heritage to be proud of from these old pioneers and should zealously up hold the traditions of an earlier day.