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BARBOUR COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
Valerie & Tommy Crook
vfcrook@trellis.net
November 26, 1999
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 325
FLOYD TETER, banker and business man of Belington, is
a native of Barbour County, and some important history
pertinent to this section of the state as well as to the family
is involved in an account of his forefathers.
The name Teter is a corruption of "Dietrich," the pure
German spelling of the name. The Dietrichs were in the
Valley of Virginia at the close of the American Revolution
and are said to have settled from Pennsylvania. From the
Valley of Virginia, branches of the family moved westward,
one going into Pendleton County in what is now West Vir-
ginia. In Barbour County the family were pioneers.
Teter's Creek was named as early as 1783, and four years
later George Teter acquired title to land here, evidence
of which is found in the Virginia land books.
However, the first permanent settler of old Randolph
County on the west bank of Tygart Valley River and in
what is now the County of Barbour, was Jacob Teter,
great-grandfather of Floyd Teter. It was about 1800 that
he came to Barbour County from Pendleton County. He
was a son of Philip Teter, whose other children were Joseph,
Isaac, James, Nancy and, perhaps, Mary. There is record of
a Mary "Tidricks" who was married in Randolph County to
Enoch Osborn in 1803, and in 1811 Solomon Yeager mar-
ried Mary, a daughter of Jacob Teter.
The great-grandfather Jacob Teter settled on the west
side of the Tygart Valley Eiver at what is now the town-
site of Belington. When he came here from Pendleton
County he was accompanied by a boy, and also carried a
gun, and they were followed by his dog. He and the boy
built a little cabin not far from the river bank. This
historic log building was still standing in 1890. The well
at the site is still marked by a depression near the Beling-
ton West Side school building. Mr. Teter acquired a large
tract of land, including all the present West Side of Beling-
ton. After his home was built he was joined by his family.
When he started back to Pendleton County to bring on
his family the Tygart Valley Eiver was high and he built
a raft to cross it. On the raft he put the boy, together
with his dog and gun and a scant supply of food, and,
tying one end of a withe to the craft, he put the other
end between his teeth and, swimming across, pulled the
raft and landed the cargo safely on the opposite shore.
Jacob Teter was a sturdy frontiersman who cleared much
of his land from the virgin forest. Abundant prosperity
attended his labors. He erected a comfortable house on
his farm, planted an orchard, and from some apple and
cherry trees of this orchard his great-grandson has eaten
fruit, though all of the trees have now disappeared. As
one of the first settlers he built and operated the first grist
mill, and at that mill continued to serve the second and third
generations. He was also active in founding the first
Methodist Church. Evidence of his deep piety is found in
the story that the only method by which some boys were able
to capture a prized melon in his fine melon patch was to
wait until he was engaged in prayer. He has told the boys
that if they could steal that special melon without his
detecting them they were welcome to it. He founded a
strong race of people, having been twice married. Among
his sons were Jacob, Joseph and Isaac, and among his
daughters were Mrs. Mary Yeager, Mrs. Stonestreet and
Mrs. Patrick McCann.
His son Jacob, grandfather of Floyd Teter, was born in
the pioneer log cabin mentioned above. His older brother,
Joseph, was born in Pendleton County May 8, 1796. Jacob
Teter became one of the substantial fanners of Barbour
County, his farm being half a mile further up the Tygart
Valley than the old home. In his generation he was as
vigorous and efficient as his father, and hia life was ordered
on a high plane of integrity and honor. He died at the
age of seventy-six. His wife was Mary Coberly. The
oldest of their children was Jesse Teter. Oliver was a
Union soldier, a pioneer in road improvement in Barbour
County, and died in that county. James was a Union
soldier, a successful farmer and at the time of his death
lived in Oklahoma. Abel was also in the ranks of Union
soldiers, and died on his farm in his native county. Peyton
was killed by a falling tree when a young man. Margaret
became the wife of Charles Groves. Eliza was the wife of
Major Felonhouse; Elizabeth married Josiah Wilson. Del-
phia died in young womanhood. All the son-in-laws were
Union soldiers, so that the patriotic and military record of
the family is exceptional.
Jesse Teter, father of Floyd, was born May 14, 1823, and
his entire life was passed in the vicinity of his birthplace.
He attended the subscription schools and was a successful
teacher for a time. His chief business was farming and
cattle raising, but he also performed a constructive service
in the clearing of land and making his section of the
county more available for general improvement. He served
thirty-seven consecutive years as justice of the peace, and in
the Civil war period was active and influential in the recruit-
ing of troops for the Union. He was a leader in public and
political affairs, and he and his wife were devoted members
of the Concord Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a lib-
eral contributor in the erection of the church building, and
served as class leader and teacher in the Sunday School. His
death occurred September 14, 1901, and that of his widow
on the 12th of March, 1912. In 1849 he married Miss
Elizabeth Phillips, whose father, Thomas Phillips, a cabinet
maker by trade, was a pioneer settler in Randolph County
and later in Barbour County. Of the children of Jesse and
Elizabeth Teter the first born was William Worth, who
was a farmer merchant and civil engineer in Barbour
County at the time of his death; Thomas B. was a farmer
and live-stock dealer in this county at the time of his death,
February 12, 1917, and under the administration of Presi-
dent Cleveland he served as Government Indian agent at
Pocatello, Idaho; Ida who is dead was the wife of Dr.
M. M. Hoff, a leading physician at Philippi, Barbour
County; Floyd is the youngest son; and Miss Mertie E.
remains on the old home farm, just southwest of Belington.
Floyd Teter was born October 7, 1857, and is indebted
to the public schools of his native county for his early
education. He continued to assist in the work and manage-
ment of the old home farm until his marriage. For some
twenty years thereafter he was associated with the lumber-
ing operations conducted by Charles G. Blachley, for whom
he purchased timber on an extensive scale, besides conduct-
ing an independent business enterprise. Afterward for
several years he actively engaged in the buying and selling
of West Virginia coal lands. He erected one of the first
brick buildings at Belington, where he also built and sold
other buildings, and thus contributed much to the material
advancement of the little city. He was one of the organizers
of the Citizens Bank, the first established in Belington, and
became a director of the institution. Since its conversion
into the Citizens National Bank he has continued a director
of the latter, and is now vice president. His civic loyalty
was distinctly shown in his two terms of service as a mem-
ber of the City Council, but he has no liking for public
office or political activity. He is a staunch supporter of
the cause of the republican party, is affiliated with the
Loyal Order of Moose, and he and his wife are active mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. On December
18, 1884, Mr. Teter married Miss Dollie Hinkle, who was
born in Eandolph County, this state, January, 17, 1867, a
daughter of Bernard L. and Albina (Mouse) Hinkle. The
town of Elkins is situated on the old farm of Mr. Hinkle,
who died there. His widow is now a resident of Belington.
Mrs. Teter was their only child. Charles Edward, eldest
of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Teter, resides at Beling-
ton, where he is an automobile machinist. He married
Delia Curry, who died, survived by one child, Delia Ruth.
Jessie, who graduated from the Belington High School, is
a talented pianist, is a popular factor in the social life of
the community and remains at the parental home. Bernard
L., a graduate of the local high school, is assistant cashier
of the Citizens National Bank of Belington.
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