General Notes

Occ: Weaver
Rel: Methodist
Note: One of the first 13 settlers to Levelton District, Pocahontas County WV in about 1765. Alexander Waddell and his wife are listed as early members of the "White Pole" Methodist church at Levelton, near Hillsboro. Settled near Marvin Chapel.
Alexander died at age 102. Buried in Hulbert Graveyard, Alexander Church, Gallia County, Ohio. Stone inscribed, A man that fought for liberty - but now his soul doth rest in paradise."
Alexander Waddell fought under Gen. Lewis at Battle of Point Pleasant, Oct 10, 1774.
Married at Mt Jackson, Shenandoah Co VA
Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County WV, p. 479-481.
Alexander Waddell was appointed one of the overseers of the roads of Pocahontas County: Ency. of W.V, p. 38.
--History of the Roush [Rausch] Family in America, Volume II, p. 422:
"Alexander Waddell was born in or near Glasgow, Scotland in the month of February, 1732 . . . the same month and year which saw the birth of another great American, George Washington. We know little of the details of his early life, but we know that there were at least two other borthers, an elder brother William and a younger brother Matthew. The Waddells were said to be prosperous weavers of that vicinity. Alexander Waddell came to America in 1755--tradition having it tht he was accompanied by his brother William, who subsequently became separated from him, William going northward toward New York, and the two brothers never meeting again. A further tradition is that both brothers came to America as soldies under General Braddock who arrived the same year, serving with him in the famous battle and remaining in America to become pioneers in the new country. Little is know of Alexander from the time of his arrival at the age of 24 years until the time of his marriage in 1771 fifteen years later. His service in the various French and Indian Wars which were waged during that period might well account for the absence of detailed records. Undoubtedly he soon found his way to the frontier, where other Scotsmen were going, and probably was frequently in and around the little settlement of Staunton in Augusta County, Virginia, where other Waddells were prominent in the early days of that community. Probably they were related, but the relationship is unknown at this time. It has been suggested that he was one of the famous itinerant weavers who traveled from settlement to settlement doing the fine weaving for the more prosperous families, being welcomed into the household as a craftsman and also a bearer of news of other settlements. We definitely know that in this period he became an expert frontiersman.
There is another tradition which should be included here to the effect that Alexander was married before he left Scotland and brought his family to America, where at some time within this period his cabin was attacked by Indians in his absence, and his wife and children all murdered. The writer is inclined to feel that this was experienced by his younger brother Matthew, and has heard the same tradition related about Matthew. The absence of any available record of any permanent residence of Alexander during this period gives additional weight to this belief.
In the year 1771 we cn imagine the household of John Adam Roush welcoming Alexander Waddell to their home in the Mill Creek Valley near Mt. Jackson, Va. They had not seen him for over a year and his news of the other settlements was warmly welcomed while the womenfolk of the house made haste to prepare the flaxen thread that the expert weaver would transform into beautiful linen. Probably the most excited was nineteen year old Eleanor Roush who had met the mature Alexander Waddell on previous visits, then thirty-nine years old and in the prime of life. We do not know the exact date of their marriage. Their grand-daughter says it was in 1771 or 1772. It is possible that it was in 1770. In any event about 1771 this newly married couple left the comparative safety of the Shenandoah Valley and settled in the heart of the Allegheny Mountains on the very edge of the frontier. The site of this home, which was only to be moved a short distance a few years later to gain the height that Buckeye Mountain afforded, was in Pocahontas County, along the Greenbrier River, just south of Marlinton (now West Virginia). This site was then in Botetourt County, later Bath County and finally in Pocahontas County. Price's "History of Pocahontas County" dwells at length on Alexander Waddell and his descendants. Close neighbors wee the Ewings who later settled in Ewington, Gallia County, Ohio. On the edge of this frontier were many Indian raids, which culminated in the action known as Lord Dunmore's War, and was featured by the Battle of Point Pleasant. Many of the company records of these troops were lost, but it has been shown to the satisfaction of the Daughters of the American Revolution that Alexander Waddell fought in this battle under Captain Arbuckle. Hardesty's "History of Gallia County" states tha Alexander Waddell fought in the Battle of Point Pleasant and mentions the powder horn which it is said he picked up off the battlefield from a fallen Indian. Later during the Revolutionary War, Hardesty says that he fought under George Washington. It is probable that he fought in the southern campaign, as there were in the possession of his descendants for many eyars a watch and a whetstone which Alexander found on the battlefield at Guilford Court House. Another interesting tradition, which seems to be probable, is that Alexander was with Washington at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, and after the surrender, when the British soldiers and the Americans were mingling, Alexander met his younger brother Matthew who had been drafted into the British service. Matthew left the British and went back to the mountains with Alexander. It is the writer's belief that he married and lived near Alexander, and that some misfortune happened to his family, possibly an Indian attack, and tha only Matthew and one daughter, Agnes, remained alive. Matthew did not remarry and lived with Alexander in Pocahontas County until Alezander's son William came to Gallia County in 1803, when Matthew came also to Ohio and is mentioned in Hardesty's History as the firstschool teacher of Green Township. Hardesty also mentions Alezander having served inthe War of 1812, but in all probability his service was in some local official capacity as at that time he was eighty years old. He remained in Pocahontas County until 1817, when he and his younger son Joseph decided to folow his elder sons to Gallia County, Ohio. The church and school of Alezander was named for him and the sites were given by him. He was a devout Methodist, having joined the church about 1762. His great ambition was to live to be one hundred years of age. He died at the age of 102, September 7, 1834 and was buried in the family graveyard (later to be known as the Hulbert Graveyard) where his tombstone still bears this most appropriate inscription: "A man that fought for liberty But now his soul doth rest in Paradise."
Eleanor (Roush) Waddell died October 9, 1827, aged 75 years, and was buried in the family graveyard. Her tombstone bears the following inscription: (misspelling noted): "Oh what a striking scen-- In this cold grave appears. A Mortal turned to durst again . . Quit -- spun out all her years."
Price, William T., Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County WV, 1901 by Price Brothers, pg. 479-481.
ALEXANDER WADDELL
One of the pioneers of our county from whom quite a number of our people
trace their descent was Alexander Waddell. He was of Scotch-Irish descent and was among the earliest settlers in the neighborhood of Marvin Chapel. His wife was a Miss Rouss. He came from Augusta County before the Revolution, but in what year is not certainly known. He came out to examine the country, and looked over the Levels and the lands beyond Buckeye and around Sewall's Cave, and selected the place so long known as the Waddell Place, where the public road reaches the highest point on the mountain in passing from Buckeye to Millpoint. When he first explored the Levels all was mainly vacant or unclaimed, and he might have entered the greater part of it. He concluded it was too level and gladly, and so he preferred the lands north of Millpoint where he could be high enough to keep in the dry.
Their daughter, Martha, married the late John Barlow, of Edray, mentioned elsewhere. Elizabeth Waddell married William Sharp, near Edray. Ann Waddell married Squire James Sharp of Beaver Creek. Each of these sons-in-law of the early pioneer are specially mentioned in this book as men of prominence in the affairs of the county. Mary Waddell married Squire John Gillilan, near Millpoint. This large family moved to Missouri, where their numerous descendants have their prosperous homes. Jennie Waddell married Josiah Brown, near Edray. Miriam Waddell was married to John Thompson and moved to Ohio. The Waddell sons were John, William, and Alexander. To give his sons a chance to have their homes near him, the venerable pioneer concluded to move to Ohio and settled near Gallipolis. These sons all died on Ohio, and their history is not much known to their friends in West Virginia.
Mr Waddell seems to have been a fervently pious person. It was his intense desire to live on hundred years, and he made this desire for longevity a matter of special prayer. He died in Ohio at the age of one hundred an two years, thus receiving a full measure and more of borrowed time. With long life good satisfied him, and showed him his salvation.
The history of his life shows he had paid good attention to bible reading
where it is written in the thirty-fourth Psalm: "What man is he that desireth
life and loveth many days that he may see good? Keep they tongue from evil and thy lips from speaking guile; depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." This Psalm was a great favorite with our pious pioneer people, to give them consolation in their times of danger and distress.
Alexander Waddell immigrated to America in 1755. He lived to be 102 years old. Large man, blue eyes, sandy reddish hair.
Alexander Waddell came to America in 1755 with his brother, Matthew &
settled in Bath Co., VA. Matthew, a soldier in the English Army,
returned to England to finish his term of service, then returned &
settled in Stanton Co., VA near his brother Alexander. Another
brother, William settled later in New York & is rumored to have gone
to Canada. Alexander Waddell served in the Revolution & in 1780 moved
to Gallia Co., OH. His land grant or patent was signed by John
Hancock. Alexander was a member of the the Methodist church for 71
years & a friend of John & Charles Wesley, who influenced him to
become a circuit riding preacher. His circuit covered a hundred miles.
He rode a big white horse & was the only minister to officiate at
weddings & funerals in that area. He had 12 children & 140
grandchildren.
Obituary: 18 Sept 1834 Gallipolis Journal. d. Alexander Waddell, aged over 100 on 6 Sept 1834...a native of Scotland...married Elenor Roush in Pocahontas Co., VA...had 5 sons and 7 daughters...wife died about 7 years ago...funeral at son John's home by Rev. John Clark...came to this country in an early year...emigrated to western VA with first band that crossed the mountains...in several battles with Indians during Frontier Wars.