Historical collections of Virginia containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c., relating to its history and antiquities, together with geographical and statistical descriptions : to which is appended, an historical and descriptive sketch of the District of Columbia : illustrated by over 100 engravings, giving views of the principal towns, seats of eminent men, public buildings, relics of antiquity, historic localities, natural scenery, etc., etc. |
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TYLER. |
 | Historical collections of Virginia |  |
TYLER.
Tyler was formed in 1814, from Ohio, and named from John
Tyler, gov. of Va. from 1808 to 1811, and father of the late President
of the U. S. It is 40 miles long, with a mean breadth of 18
miles. This county declines to the west towards the Ohio, and is
drained by Middle Island and Fishing creeks, both running through
the county and emptying into the Ohio. The surface is exceedingly
creek and river bottoms, excellent. About 50,000 pounds of maple
sugar are annually produced. Pop. in 1840, whites 6,854, slaves
85, free colored 5; total, 6,954.
Middlebourn, the county-seat, is 307 miles northwesterly from
Richmond, 52 miles S. of Wheeling, near the centre of the county,
on Middle Island creek. It contains 3 mercantile stores, a Methodist
church, and about 50 dwellings. Sistersville, 48 miles below
Wheeling, is one of the best landings on the Ohio. This town
was laid out in 1814 as the county-seat; but in 1816 it was removed
to Middlebourn, 9 miles east of here. It is a flourishing
village, containing 4 mercantile stores and about 80 dwellings.
Martinsville, at the mouth of Fishing creek, 40 miles below Wheeling,
contains 1 store and about 40 dwellings. Centreville, situated
on the west bank of Middle Island creek, 7 miles E. of the C. H.,
contains from 30 to 40 dwellings.
This county, being upon the Ohio River, has, in common with
those counties situated upon this great artery, a facility in transporting
its produce to market not possessed by the country further
inland. The introduction of steamboats has greatly increased
these facilities. In the infancy of the country every species of
water-craft was employed in navigating this beautiful river; and
that unique and hardy race that once spent their lives upon its
waters have vanished. The graphic and lively picture given
below from Flint's Recollections of the lives of the boatmen, is now
a part of the history of our country:
The way of life which the boatmen lead, is in turn extremely indolent and extremely
laborious; for days together requiring little or no effort, and attended with no danger,
and then, on a sudden, laborious and hazardous beyond Atlantic navigation. The boats
float by the dwellings of the inhabitants on beautiful spring mornings, when the verdant
forests, the mild and delicious temperature of the air, the delightful azure of the sky, the
fine bottom on one hand and the romantic bluff on the other, the broad and smooth stream
rolling calmly down the forest and floating the boat gently onward—all combine to inspire
the youthful imagination. The boatmen are dancing to the violin on the deck of
their boat. They scalter their wit among the girls on the shore, who come down to the
water's edge to see the pageant pass. The boat glides on until it disappears behind a
point of wood. At this moment, perhaps, the bugle, with which all the boats are provided,
strikes up its notes in the distance over the water. These scenes and these
notes, echoing from the bluffs of the beautiful Ohio, have a charm for the imagination,
which, although I have heard a thousand times repeated, and at all hours, is,
even to me, always new and always delightful.
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