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KANAWHA COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA - BIOS: DERRICK, F.L.
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
Sandy Spradling
SSpradling@AOL.com
September 26, 1999
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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and Representative
Citizens
W.S. Laidley
Richmond Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, ILL.
1911
p. 444-445
F. L. DERRICK, who resides on his fine farm of 203 acres, which lies on Poca
River, in Poca District, Kanawha County, W. Va., fourteen miles north of
Charleston, was born on this farm November 5, 1860, and is a son of Michael
and a grandson of Jbn-athan Derrick.
Jonathan Derrick was born in Botetourt County, W. Va., and came from there to
what is now Poca District, Kanawha County, in the year 1810and was the
first man to settle on the stream which later was named Derrick Creek in his
honor. He married Mary Haynes and they had thirteen children: Betsey, Mary,
Catharine, Rachel, Martha, Agnes, Andrew, John, George, Leroy, Michael, Nancy
and Amanda. Jona-than Derrick acquired 2,572 acres in Poca District and all
of it at that time was cov-ered with timber, and also a vein of coal in the
hills, seven feet thick. He cleared a road from his farm and made
improvements on the land and in addition to his other in-terprises, followed
the trade of blacksmith. He made bells which were hung on the necks of the
cows to keep them from getting lost in the forest and some of these are still
in existence showing a large measure of mechanical skill. His death occurred
in 1846 and his burial was on his own land, as was the custom of that day.
Michael Derrick was born in what is now Kanawha County, West Virginia,
February 9, 1818, on the farm now owned by E. C. Crane. He attended school
at Pocotaligo, in Poca District. He married Julia Ann Dawson, who was born
near Sissonville, Kanawha County, and they had seven children, namely: S. W.,
who died on April 11, 1910; Addison B., who died at the age of nineteen
years; Letha M., who died aged seventeen years; Adna A., who died March 14,
1908 (was twice married, first to Emory Aultz, and second to John Dawson);
Elmina, who is the wife of Joseph B. Mairs; Elmore M., who was married first
to Sidney Clinton, and secondly to Nancy E. Hack-ney; F. L., the subject of
this sketch. After marriage Michael Derrick and wife settled on the farm now
owned by E. C. Crane and then moved to the farm under considera-tion,
erecting his buildings on an elevated portion, on which site his son F. L.
Derrick has rebuilt. He was a man of industrious habits and exemplary life,
both he and wife being regular attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church.
He took a good citizen's interest in politics, not caring for office, but
never failed to vote, and was a Republican. His estate consisted of I59~
acres of the present farm and of a second farm of 350/2 acres across Poca
River. He died at the age of sixty-two years and his wife died fifteen years
later; their burial was on the home land.
F. L. Derrick obtained his early education in the Derrick Creek schoolhouse,
after which he became a farmer and has lived on the farm of 159 3/4 acres, to
which he has added a few acres, ever since his marriage. He cultivates all
his land with the assistance of one tenant. Mr. Derrick is interested in the
Kanawba & Putnam Counties Telephone Company.
Mr. Derrick married Miss Anna Johnson, who was born in Poca District, a
daughter of William Johnson, and they have had seven children: Dora, John,
Newman, Julia, James, Ivy and Michael S. John died when three years old.
Mr. Derrick has been a Republican ever since casting his first vote. He
belongs to the lodge of Odd Fellows at Sissonville, W. V
Sandy Spradling
SSpradling@AOL.com
State Contact for WV GenExchange
http://www.genexchange.com/wv/index.cfm
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