Historic Jackson Mill

In Jane Lew, West Virginia

There are plenty of interpretive signs in the Jackson's Mill Homestead. Here are some excerpts from a plaque that's mounted next to the front door:

Edward Jackson, "Stonewall's" grandfather, came to the West Fork valley with his family in 1801 and built a log gristmill at a bend on the east side of West Fork River sometime within the next few years. Milling was an import industry… his son Cummins took possession after Edward's death.

Cummins rebuilt the mill you see today … in 1841. Power was provided by two water wheels situated beneath the first floor.

Blaker's Mill Pond

This mill pond at Jackson's Mill is not original to the farmstead. It was added in recent years to provide water for Blaker's Mill which was moved here to be part of the exhibit.

An older mill on the property was once owned by relatives of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson and he and his sister moved here after being orphaned at children.

Click on a picture to see a larger version.

Link: Historic Jackson's Mill Farmstead, WV

A Plaque at Jackson's Mill

This monument does not identify who erected it or when. I notice that it's similar to some erected by the Daughters of the Confederacy throughout the south and in the border states.

This tablet marks the site of the boyhood home of General T. J. (Stonewall) Jackson.
A soldier of great military genius and renown
A man of resolute, pure and Christian character
Died May 10, 1863
Of wounds received at
The Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia.

Jackson's Mill, West Virginia

Earlier posts:

• Recognizing the Women who Memorialized their Men
• Markers at Falling Waters
• The Place Where Stonewall Jackson Died
• Grave of Stonewall Jackson in Lexington

I Finally Went to Jackson's Mill

I've considered going to Jackson's Mill for several years. It's the boyhood home of Stonewall Jackson and it's in West Virginia just over three hours from home. Yet three hours each way makes a long day trip, but seems a little too short for an overnight trip.

A look at the map told me that we could easily visit there on the way home from Huntington, WV. It's near the town of Weston.

The historic mill area has been built into a living history site. It's part of the Jackson's Mill 4-H Camp and Conference Center.

Honeysuckle on a Rail Fence

Near Weston, WV

Corn Stalks and Cloudy Sky

To see sky photos from all over the world, visit Skywatch Friday.

Perspectives on a Red Hibiscus

I was attracted to the Double Red Hibiscus in the conservatory in Huntington, WV. We did not take the time to visit the extensive system of nature trails there, but did drive through the neighborhood where we saw some lovely homes and parkland.

Hibiscus (Malvaceae family)

Delights in the Conservatory

Dendrobates Azureus

We saw tropical flowers in the conservatory at the museum in Huntington, West Virginia, and also these cute blue "dart frogs. In their native Brazil, they are poisonous but in captivity they lose this protective feature, apparently due to changes in diet.

Museum of Art in Huntington, WV

Before leaving the Ohio River Valley we toured the Huntington Museum of Art. It encompasses a conservatory and an outdoor area with nature trails.

West Virginia has long been known for it's glassmaking so it's appropriate that the museum has a collection of art glass.

The Oldest House in Chesapeake, Ohio

Home of Jacob and Margaret Suiter 180 Years Ago

I would not have recognized this home built by my ancestors had it not been for Joann Loete of the Suiter Family Association. She had visited the house 18 years ago and had recently shared a photo of it as it appeared then. It had been altered greatly from the way it looked in 1925. Back then it did not have a stone front.

I did not have an address but I watched for the house as we drove through town on Ohio Route 7. One description I'd read mentioned that it was behind a gas station. And so it was!

We pulled into a parking lot to take a picture of the house. A young woman came out to the mailbox and I asked her if this was the Jacob Suiter house. She said yes, and after I introduced myself as a descendent she offered to show me a book about the house. It was a 3-ring binder with some articles about the home's history.

I took a snapshot of a page showing a submission to the Ohio Historic Inventory that was made in 1976. It describes the house as "Built, 1824, by Jacob Suiter with logs hewn at site. Building stands with wooden pegs."

The form shows that the house was owned by William Black, although since that time he sold it. The young woman whose parents now own the house told me that the local library has information about the house. When I checked there I found that the branch library in Ironton now has the books on Suiter family history.

It was exciting to find this house built by my father's great-great-grandfather! We also made an effort to find the Suiter Family Cemetery in Bradrick and were within walking distance of it when a rainstorm moved in. At that point we drove across the river to our hotel in Barboursville and reached our room just as thunder and lightening started. I was satisfied with having seen the house — thrilled actually!

Earlier Posts:

• Suiter Genealogy
• Lawrence County Suiters
• Jacob Suiter's House in Ohio
• More on Jacob Suiter

By the Banks of the Ohio

I mentioned some time ago that I had ancestors who lived near the Ohio River. I finally got around to going back there, so here we see the river from the West Virginia side (at McClelland Park in Huntington). My g-g-g-g-grandparents lived across the river in Ohio.

And yes, we made it over there! The third picture shows Symmes Creek in the state of Ohio, not far from where my ancestors lived. It flows into the Ohio River not far from this point, which was a boat landing in Chesapeake. As you can see, the creek looked muddy.

Middle Creek Battlefield, KY

I hadn't been to a battlefield in Kentucky so we stopped at Middle Creek near Prestonsburg to take a look. It was a forlorn-looking place, in need of weed trimming and deserted, although a ranger drove up just before we left. There were a number of signs and a trail.

On the back of this sign is some history of the family who owned this land. At the time of the Civil War the owner was Henry Clay Fitzpatrick, grandson of Bath County, Virginia, native John Fitzpatrick, a Revolutionary War veteran who established a farm here sometime before 1800.

The Historical Marker Database provides the rest of the story, including this summary:

The Battle of Middle Creek At this site, on Jan. 10, 1862, Union troops under Col. James A. Garfield defeated Confederates led by Gen. Humphrey Marshall. Garfield's 1,100 Ohioians and Kentuckians advanced up Middle Creek and clashed with Marshall's 1,967 Virginians and Kentuckians.

The Union victory here enhanced the reputation of Garfield, who was promoted to brigadier general. Eventually he became president in 1881. His biography on Wikipedia is worth reading.

Rest Stop on the Country Music Highway

Much of the route we took from Breaks to West Virginia followed the Country Music Highway, U.S. 23. Many musicians hail from Kentucky, so it wasn't too surprising to see decor like this at an Exxon/mini mart.

I spotted a sign for Butcher Hollow but didn't take the time to make a side trip there.

Pink Chairs with Red Phone Booth

Seen in Eastern Kentucky

We Interrupt this Trip Report...

I want to share a couple of photos from our Labor Day weekend. We were fortunate to have some family members visit.

Allison and Dave

Peggy and Me

Part One of Our Trip is Posted

I've finally completed posting pictures of our visit to Breaks Interstate Park. It's a photogenic place and the weather was lovely so I got plenty of photographs. Most of them went up during August and the rest over the past few days.

• August posts
• Caboose in Elkhorn City
• Town on Russell Fork (Elkhorn City, KY)
• Reminds Me of Cold Mountain (Soldier's Grave)
• Overlooking Russell Fork
• Downstream on Russell Fork

Downstream on Russell Fork

Near the Kentucky-Virginia Border

As we drove downhill from Breaks toward Elkhorn City we paused at a boat landing. Russell Fork had leveled out a bit here, although it was still rushing over the rocks.

This is a beautiful spot. I shot a brief video so you can hear the sound of the river.

Overlooking Russell Fork

Breaks Canyon, KY

Along Route 80 between the Breaks Interstate Park entrance and Elkhorn City we found a dramatic overlook with a view of white water on the Russell Fork River. I was glad we stopped to take a look!

A Wildflower in Kentucky

I don't know what this is but I like the color!

This Reminds Me of "Cold Mountain"

Fallen Soldier of the Confederate Army
Name and Date Unknown


This grave and historical marker are on state route 80 near it's intersection with the entrance road of Breaks Interstate Park. This site is located on the upper left of the park map.

The Kentucky historical marker reads:

Known but to God

Here rests the body of a soldier of the Confederacy, struck down by an unknown assassin in May of 1865 — apparently on way to home in the South. He was buried in a coffin made of boards rived from a great oak by four men of this community. After the turn of the century, a rose bush marked this final resting place of a soldier who is "Known but to God."

Link (on Amazon): Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier

Town on Russell Fork

In Elkhorn City, Kentucky

The road down from Breaks Interstate Park runs beside Russell Fork, a river that also flows through Elkhorn City.

The artwork under the bridge bears the message:
"The Rivers Make the Mountains.
The Mountains Make the People."

When I stopped to get a picture of the river, I also found a caboose, a strolling dog, and a historical marker.

"William Ramey, born ca. 1782, came from North Carolina. He purchased 200-acre tract near the mouth of Elkhorn Creek in 1816. Served as justice of the peace, sheriff, and commissioner of roads in Pike Co. Acquired thousands of acres by land surveys and county court orders. The founder of Elkhorn City, his descendants still live in the area."

Link: Elkhorn City Newspaper

Caboose in Elkhorn City

The closest town near Breaks Interstate Park that offers shopping is Elkhorn City, Kentucky. With a population of a little over one thousand people, it's a small town known best for the recreational opportunities nearby, including whitewater rafting.

This caboose beside the river bore a "tourist information" sign, but it was not open when we were there late in the afternoon.

Since the paint has faded to a pink color, I'm using this as a gallery entry for City Daily Photo's September theme: "Pink."