Home Children Descendants Resources
| The History of the Shady Springs District |
| Sources: A History of the Shady Springs District, compiled and published by the Shady Springs Women's Club, 1979. Census of 1810 Raleigh County Grandview Reunion Booklet Early Raleigh County Settlers by W. A. Riffe. |
The Shady Springs District is located in Raleigh County West Virginia near the New River. Surrounding towns are Crow, Beaver, Quinnimont, Table Rock and Grandview. Some of the early families that settled there are the Reddens, Carpers, McClures, Adkins, Meadows, Plumleys, and Kidwells. In 1797 Francis Farley was employed by wealthy Greenbriar County citizens to cut a road through Raleigh County. William Redden Sr. is listed as the first settler in the 1810 Census of Raleigh County. Almost all of the early settlers were illiterate unless from wealthy families. Although he could not read or write, William Redden made some shrewd land deals and owned several hundred acres of land. It was heavily forested and rich in minerals. Many settlers sought out river bottom land but there were some isolated farms in the timbered areas. Wild game abounded and bears were prized for their meat, grease and blankets. There were no schools until 1865 because most families were just trying to survive. Children worked and were considered adults in their teens. In 1876, school terms were only four months long and were held in log buildings 20 by 22 feet. Teacher pay was about fifteeen dollars a month and teachers moved from one school site to another. One school site was listed as Redden. Others were Flat Top, Beaver, Richmond, Carper,Tom Lilly, Scott, Hunt, Tilden, Sulpher Springs, and Low Top. About 1810, William and Fanny Redden bought a farm on the level plateau on top of New River Mountain between Glade Creek and Mill Creek and Mathias Kaylor bought a large tract of land near Grandview. Many of their descendents still live in Raleigh County today. Back to History Home Children Descendants Resources
|