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They Came Here… copyright © Loraine Cox Metz, 2004, 1984 They came here---built their homes, found jobs and raised their families. They attended the churches and schools. Many are laid to rest near their homes. Others came, worked at a job, visited with family or friends and moved on. Their name and presence were not forgotten. Table of Contents Communities . Cisco - Freeport - Petroleum - Rusk Schools . Buffalo - Cox - Dry Ridge - Fairview - Nelson - Freeport - Petroleum - Rusk - Second Big Run Churches . Buffalo - Fairview - Freeport - Petroleum - Rusk - Sharpnack Family Records . These family records are listed in alphabetical order by first letter only Other . Several other interesting bits are in this book, scattered here and there . Old Friends New friends, I cherish, and treasure their worth, But old friends to me are the salt of the earth. Friends are like garments, that everyone wears-- New ones are needed for dress-up affairs. But when we're at leisure, we're more apt to choose The clothes that we purchased with last season's shoes. Things we grow used to, are things we love best-- The ones we are certain have weathered the test. And isn't it true (since we're talking of friends) That new ones bring pleasure when everything blends, But when we want someone who thinks as we do, And who fits, as I mentioned, like last summer's shoe-- We turn to the friends who have stuck thru' the years Who echo our laughter and try all our tears; They know every weakness and fault we possess, But somehow forget them, in friendship's caress. When I made the decision to compile this book of information about people, places and happenings in our community, I thought perhaps I would have 25 or 30 pages. I am not going to name any particular person but just say everyone--and I repeat, everyone--whom I asked for information came forth a hundred-fold. My only regret is that someone did not do this sooner, before so much good information went to the grave with many of our loved ones. Some families have been gone from the area so long, I was unable to find any member for any information and used only what someone remembered and told me. I chose the communities I did, as they formed a circle, and the folks who lived here met at the stores, schools and churches as one large family. Like all writings, I am sure there are errors and maybe all too many, but our memory does play tricks on us, and, using information from word of mouth, I am sure there were times that I misunderstood or wrote information down in error. I have tried to eliminate any information that would hurt or embarrass anyone. My hope is that you will enjoy reading this book as much as I have enjoyed getting it all together. I want to say thanks from the bottom of my heart to each of you who worked so hard to get information to me and gathered up things that were in addition to your own family. I am sure each of you realizes this book could not have been gotten together if each of you had not contributed what you did. Again, thank you-- L.C.M.T. This book was compiled and is being distributed on a non-profit basis. November 1984. Communities Petroleum Post Office A large number of the families who are mentioned in this writing had a mail address of Petroleum. Only fitting we should know a little about it. This community had a post office established in June 1857. The name was changed to Roger's January 1866 but changed back to Petroleum on October 10, 1879. The office was in different houses in the community but established in its present location June 15, 1917 at the time Charles W. Thrash was postmaster. The first postmaster was James Kelly who was appointed in 1857. The town was laid out about the time the B & O Railroad came through. Other people who served as postmaster are as follows: Jerome A Vandiver Nov. 1859 George Rutherfod June 1861 Philip Reitz Oct. 1866 Frederick Reitz June 1867 Daniel M. Sharpnack June 1871 William Thrash Aug. 1885 Daniel M. Sharpnack Apr. 1889 Jackson R. Mounts Apr. 1893 Daniel M. Sharpnack Dec. 1896 George B. Douglass Sept. 1901 Charles W. Thrash June 1915 William A. Thrash Feb. 1944 Marguerite Thrash Aug. 1972* *had been appointed officer-in-charge, July 1969 At one time, two rural routes went out of the post office. Some of the carriers were: Amos Bell John S. Coss Russell B. Cox C. W. Davis James E. Dean Ralph B. Dinnin George B. Douglass Andrew D. Foutty Clarence F. Geer Elias Hickman Charles L. Jonas Glenn G. Kerns William J. Koehnlein John D. Lanham Ralph McCollum Chester A. McFarland Lewis W. McFarland Raymar McFarland Wilford A. Mason Harvey C. Metz Herbert C. Netser Hobert Pepper Jr. Nancy L. Putnam Mary E. Rinehart Daniel A. Sharpnack Preston Simmons Raymond A. Simmons John V. Sims Frank L. Spiker Charles L. Tennant William A. Thrash Ralph C. Valentine Garred P. Vinson Denver Webb And there may have been others. --From account in Ritchie County History by Marguerite Thrash Dutch Fred Place This spot is located on Dry Ridge between the two schools. A fellow by the name of Frederick had a log house here. He and his family lived here for several years, and he was what was called in his day a medicine man. He brewed blood medicine--herbs boiled in an iron kettle with horseshoes. This iron content was good for the blood. He sold this mixture. Memories of some residents was that he lived around the turn of the century. The census gives a man by the name of Nicholas Frederick, age 27, living in the area, and his occupation was listed as a peddler. It is believed this might be the same person. In later years the Astron Oil Company drilled a well that made 150 barrels of oil a day. This opened up the field in the mid-1920s. --related by Lathrop Foutty Remember the Ritchie County Fair? Who doesn't? This fair ran from 1887 to 1962. In those 75 years a lot of cotton candy and hot dogs were sold and many, many miles covered in the harness races. This was a time of year each of us looked forward to and did our best to attend at least one day. Petroleum Dad, who was F. M. Netser, bought the store from a man by the name of Shafer. He had it only thirty days when he sold it to Dad in June 1912. The building was built in 1886. The first store building in the community was across the road in what is now the post office. This was a partnership by the families of Douglass and Rutherford. A Mr. Reitz had a store across the railroad facing my dad's store--a general merchandise type store. His wife had a millinery shop in the same building. It was a sight in the spring to see the ladies coming out of the shop with their new spring hats. Henry Perrine bought the store from Mr. Reitz. The blacksmith shop was run by Ed Wyatt and William Cross. Mr. Reitz also had an icehouse here. Ralph Jackson had the livery barn. Dr. E. H. Douglass had his office in the house I now own. The Eureka Pipe Line Co. had a pump station here with two 500-barrel tanks for storage. The oil was pumped to Elm Run from them. Dr. Shirkey practiced here for a while. G. B. Douglass was the postmaster. Charles Thrash took the test and became postmaster. Jim Beckner bought a large tract of timber in Ellis Run. He built a house and barn for Jim Mahaney. Jim lived here and took care of the horses for Jim. The B & O had a block station, a passing siding, an agents siding and a section gang of 8 or 10 men, a water pump station and pumper. Earlier, there were two mail routes. Daniel Sharpnack was the B & O agent at this time. There was a cooper shop here--made barrels to ship the oil in. This was before iron pipe was made. A lady by the name of Jennie Gordon with her two daughters, Elizabeth and Bertie, ran what was called the Gordon Hotel. The hotel was also run by Roy Pepper and Will Hickman. The building is still standing today. The Presbyterians were active until about 1915. A Rev. Cleveland was pastor. About this time the Methodists bought the church. My dad ran the store until 1945, then I took over and ran it until 1972. The building stood until November 1981, when a train hit it and did so much damage it was beyond repair. --by Herbert Netser Petroleum was laid out for a town as early as 1854 in view of having it made a railroad station, and it took its name from the petroleum spring nearby. The land where the settlement is today was owned and settled by Richard Parker, who transferred it to Richard Rutherford Sr. and went West. The B & O erected its first building here in 1856, and this was the year the first train ran through the village. Several names are prominent, but dates are lacking. James Kelly was an early merchant, Andrew Shaw was a blacksmith, Dr. Van Slyck of New York, the first hosteler; Dr. Humphrey, an early physician; Rev.

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