As I did research I found that my family carries a lot of history. There are many Kings, Lords, Dukes, Queens, and other royalty in my family. These next few pages are dedicated to just that, my families history. You can find even more history by looking through the different families on the ancestor’s page.

Morgan Family History

Col. Morgan Morgan is my 7th Great-Grandfather. He is a descendant of William the Conqueror and other royals. Morgan Morgan was the first white settler in West Virginia. He was born in Glamorganshire, Wales on November, 1, 1688. He married Catherine Garretson. Morgan Morgan is credited as the holder of many firsts in West Virginia. Besides the first settler, he is known as the first church builder, first licensed Tavern n Keeper, first "Engineer in Supervision of the first public enterprise undertaken in the state" (a road, some 12 miles long). I have found some records on the Morgan family. I do believe that they came from the Morgan Morgan Family Bible. I have copies of them in their original handwriting. Mark and I went to Bunker Hill, WV to visit Morgan Morgan's home. There we walked around the cemetery and saw Morgan's Chapel. Then we drove to Morgan Morgan's cabin.

Colonel Zackquill Morgan was the founder of Morgantown.

In 1787 Levi Morgan was Captain of Fort Paw Paw in Marion County West Virginia. He also served in the West Virginia Militia during Indian troubles thru 1795. In 1793 William Haymond appointed "Spy" under Levi Morgan. Lieutenant Levi Morgan in Nov 1794 at Fishing Creek in Harrison County (West) Virginia took several Indians prisoner. He had a grist mill in Catawba (West) Virginia in 1800. In 1813 Levi Morgan led the Kentucky Militia troops to Fort Vincennes.

 

Minear Family History

John Minear is my 6th Great Grandfather. John Minear came to America aboard the ship "Mary" with his parents. They arrived in Philadelphia, PA on September 8, 1732. John Minear supervised the construction of Fort Horseshoe and Fort Minear.

“Battle at Pringle’s Ford”

On April 5, 1781, six men from the Fort Minear settlement (now Saint George) were returning home on horseback from Clarksburg, where they had appeared before the board of land commissioners. The party was composed of John Minear, Daniel Cameron, Frederick Cooper, Salathiel Goff, Andrew Miller, and Henry Miller. The Minear party were riding single file with Minear in the lead. He was almost beneath the decoy when he saw it and stopped, which also halted the five riders behind him. The fact of an ambush flashed to his mind and he yelled out ‘Indians!’ but, too late, the momentary halt had given the Indians time to aim and, as Minear called out, the firing commenced. Horses and men fell together, Minear, Cameron, and Cooper being killed on the spot.

Accounts of John Minear’s life are found in the books "Histories of Tucker County, WV" by Hu Maxwell and "The Monongalia Story-A Bicentennial History" by Earl L. Core (pg. 74-76).

David Minear the son of John built the first stone house in Tucker County.

Snodgrass Family History

James Snodgrass, a 5th Great-Grand Unlce, was killed and scalped by a party of Indians. He was looking for horses that he had lost while buffalo hunting. There is a memorial near where his remains were found and buried in Arches Fork, WV. James' brother, William served in Lord Dunsmore's War in 1774.

 

Fast Family History

It is not certain exactly when the Fast coat of arms was developed, or all the individuals involved in its creation. The minutes to the Celina, Ohio Fast Family Reunion (descendants of Abraham Fast, son of John Jacob Fast, son of Nicklaus Fast), did not record very much information about the creation of the Fast coat of arms. However, 1909 has been verbally passed down through the family as the year of adoption. Perhaps a subcommittee of the family reunion drafted a plan based on recommendations from its members, who later voted to accept it. Several notes from the reunion minutes (below) provide some insight, suggesting that color was added at least by 1937.
1927 Letter from Dr. O. B Fast, 69 Church St., Fairchance, Pa., date Oct. 13, 1926, to Mrs. Meda Ricketts, RFD 8, Celina, Ohio thanking her for sending him "Coat of Arms".
1937 Coat of Arms made of red, white and black according to drafted plan.
Over the years, the crest has been displayed on stationary, a flag or pennant (at least twice), coffee mugs, and a medallion. It has been used to decorate clothing and the cover of a book.
The Fast family crest belongs to all descendants of the Nicklaus Fast family. Enjoy using it. Display it proudly. (This information is from the Johann Nicklaus Fast Website. http://home.earthlink.net/~rgfast/index.htm)

 

West Family History

Reverend James G. West is my 4th Great-Grandfather. He moved to Tyler County, now Wetzel County, and resided there until 1861. He then moved to Marion County, Mannington District, where he died. During his lifetime James G. was involved in many civic affairs. His activities included: Justice of Peace for 30 years; served in the Virginia Legislature for 20 years, which included two terms in the Senate; elected the second sheriff of Wetzel County. He was one of the main instigators determined to break away from Virginia. While in the legislature he introduced the bill creating Wetzel County and was instrumental in securing the appropriation for the building of the Pike from Brandonville to New Martinsville on the Ohio River. He took a leading role in the organization of the new state of West Virginia and was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, which met in Wheeling in 1861 and formed the state constitution. Later he served as superintendent in the building of the Pike from Waynesburg to Middlebourne. He was also a minister for the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Sources:
1. Bill Cunningham, Descendants of James West, http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvwetzel/West/pafn03.htm#2957.