THE CHURCH AT RAVENSWOOD.
Ravenswood is a small village on the Ohio River, built on land
taken up by General Washington, (who never made a mistake as to
the quality of soil,) and left to some of the Ashton family of King
George, with whom the Washington family was connected. Mr.
Henry Fitzhugh, formerly of Fauquier, marrying a descendant
of the Ashtons, became possessed of a part of this estate, and
settled on it with a large family of children. At his expense a
neat little chapel has been put up at Ravenswood, and when ministerial
services were not to be had one of his sons has officiated as
lay reader. The Rev. Mr. Tompkins has now for the last two
years been residing there, discharging the duties of a teacher and
minister at the same time. Services are also held at the court-house
of that county.
Since the above was penned, I have received a communication
which states that the ladies, by their zeal and diligence, raised one
hundred and fifty dollars for the furnishing of the chapel, and that
some contributions were made by individuals other than the family
above mentioned, in the neighbourhood, and in Wheeling and Cincinnati,
though not to a large amount. Contributions of labour were
also made by some of the neighbours. The Rev. Mr. Wheeler was
the minister for two years from the year 1842. The Rev. Messrs.
Martin and Craik and Brown, of Charleston, the Rev. Mr. Goodwin,
of Point Pleasant, the Rev. Messrs. Smith and Perkins, of Parkersburg,
the Rev. Mr. Hyland, of Moundsville, and Drs. Armstrong
and McCabe, of Wheeling, have all rendered acceptable services at
Ravenswood. The vestrymen have been Mr. Henry Fitzhugh,
Dr. John Armstrong, Thomas Atkinson, W. S. Holmes, D. M. Barr,
Burdett Fitzhugh, Henry Fitzhugh, Jr., R. H. Dickenson, James
R. Mays, George H. Fitzhugh, T. D. Noussey, J. Beckwith, Thomas
Kirk, D. Frost, I. J. C. Davenport, H. Harpold, James Beatty.
