A
JOURNEY DOWN
LEESON RUN
I’m certain that most of Doddridge County’s citizens have heard of the small country road off Old Rt. 50 at the top of Greenwood Hill. It is the area that I grew up in and still hold near and dear to my heart. We raised everything from chickens, cows, ducks, guineas, horses, pigs,
Leeson Run has always been said to have been named for the Leeson family who were first to own the entire run and for Leonidas Leeson in particular.
According to deed records at the Doddridge Courthouse, Leonidas Leeson, Hester Leeson, and Pleasy Mason sold 50 acres of land to Thomas D. Leeson in Doddridge in May of 1888. Then, in 1889, he purchased 28 ½ acres of land on Leeson. He is listed as being a grantor on several pieces of property with other Leeson family members. So, it is probable that Leonidas and his siblings inherited a large portion of land from the Leeson family. More research is needed to confirm that.
The birth date for Leonidas given in the death record is Dec 16, 1848. However, their marriage record would put it in about 1846, while the 1900 Census states Dec 1845. We do know from the 1850 Census that he was listed as being age 5 at that time and living with his parents in Doddridge County. The U.S. Census for 1840 shows Leonidas’s father living in Harrison County, now Doddridge. We can deduce this fact because his neighbors on that U.S. Census record were Luke Jaco, Richard Dotson, and Nathan Davis.
Leonidas Leeson’s parents are identified in his death record as William Leeson (b. Maryland) and Nancy Wise (birthplace unknown), but other records indicate that Nancy Wise was his father’s live-in companion by whom he had five children. Leonidas’ birth mother’s name was Mary, who was born about 1794 in Maryland. She died in 1863.
Leonidas married Esther Jane Lodge in Doddridge County on October 7, 1866. Their children were Emma, Alva (Thomas), Walter, and Willie.
He then married Florence Cain in Doddridge County on October 5, 1892. Their children were Etta, Boyd, Lloyd, and Wheeler.
There are discrepancies in Etta Leeson’s birth date. Indications are that she was born in Sep 1891, and was the daughter of Esther Lodge. However, according to Etta’s obituary, and delayed birth record her birth date is Sep 1, 1892, and it is stated that she was a daughter of Florence Cain.
Families with surnames Adams, Ahouse, Barker, Barth, Britton, Cross, Dotson, Elder, Flannagan, Hoalcraft, Hudkins, Hufford, Jones, Keys, Leeson, Mason, Monroe, Nutter, Pierce, Post, Reece, Richards, Ross, Shackelford, Sheets, Shepherd, Smith, Stein, and Williams have called this small piece of Heaven home.
Beginning at the “top of the hill” at old Rt. 50 or the Northwestern Turnpike as it was once known, we find a store owned and operated by Bernard and Eunice Ahouse. They purchased this piece of property from William and Ida Leeson.
William was married twice. First, he was married to Hannah Jane Richards (my great-aunt) who died of complications after childbirth due to lack of medical attention. Then, he married Ida Snider.
William purchased three properties on Greenwood Hill, one of the properties was from Clyde and Ila Idleman in 1934, one from F.P. and N.L. Dotson in 1938, and the store from Forest and Christine Britton in 1943.
The house next on the journey, on the left, once stood near the apple orchard that was just a short distance farther down the road on the left. It was always known as “the Ahouse Orchard.” I’m inclined to believe this was the property purchased from the Idleman family but cannot verify that at this time. At any rate, the house was moved from the orchard to the present location. It is in terrible condition and will soon be only a memory to those who once saw it there.
Next, we come to a sharp turn known as the “Dotson Turn.” It was so named because of the house down the bank directly in the sharp turn that belonged to the Ed and Roxie Dotson family. Up the bank from where the old house stood are twin tall slender rock formations which were called the Devil’s Chairs. Across the way, a short distance, and in sight of the chairs is Devil’s Tea Table. I’ll get to them at the appropriate time.
A short distance farther on the left side of the road was a small crudely built cabin that was home to an old gentleman by the name of Shepherd. Most of the children on the “Run” were afraid of him because he was known to drink to the point of intoxication and chose to live his life in solitude. One might call him a hermit of sorts.
Up the bank from the cabin is the famous Devil’s Tea Table, a large rock formation with a smaller table-type rock on top of the massive one. Many students from Leeson Run Grade School as well as Greenwood Grade School and others through the years were fortunate enough to enjoy a field trip with their teachers. If only those ancient rocks could speak…
Devil’s Tea Table
The Erie and Betty Sheets family are next on our journey down Leeson Run. The Sheets home sits on a perfect noll below the road and is the location where they raised their four children to adulthood.
A short distance down the road’s decline (called Mailbox Hill) on the right was the home of Ivan Sheets and his sister, Mildred Sheets. Ivan was a dedicated farmer all his life, an honest, hard-working man of few words. His sister, Mildred, was a very savvy businesswoman who owned and operated the Blue Bird Restaurant in Pennsboro for many years. The home is now owned by Mildred’s great-grandson, Randall, and his wife, Ellen Sheets (granddaughter of Paul McCutchan. They remodeled it creating a warm and welcoming home that is beautiful in every way.
Now, about halfway down the hill and on the left across the meadow was the home of Thurman Jones on the left and Frank Mason on the right. Royce “Top” Jones was later on the right side of the lane after the Masons moved away. Originally from Tyler County, Thurman moved to Leeson Run in about 1935 from Cabin Run where he married his first wife, Zelma Maud Pyles Jones in 1907 in Tyler County. Zelma died in 1918 at the age of 26. Thurman and Zelma had two sons, Leonard Anzellie and Guy Royce Jones. Thurman then married his 2nd wife, Belle Heiney. They were living on Leeson Run by 1930. Both lived their lives and died on their farm. They are buried in a small, fenced cemetery near the homestead.
The site of Thurman Jones Homestead is now the country home of Joseph and Wanda Richards (my brother and wife). To the left of their home is the home of young Randy Sheets and his wife.
Next, at the bottom of the hill on the right is the original homestead site. Now owned by Ray and Regina Richards, this property was once the site of owners of all that was Leeson Run and owned by Leonidas Leeson. Ray Richards Sr. purchased it from Thurman Jones in 1959 and deeded it to his firstborn son, Ray Jr.
Old Leonidas Leeson Homeplace
The small country lane just below this property is now called “Thermans Lane” (misspelled by the State). However, it was originally named Mason Lane. Named as such for the family of Frank Mason, father of Robert J. Mason. On the right side of that lane is the home of Phineas and Mary Richards Schrock.
The second road is a house built by Joseph and Wanda Richards who later sold it to his brother, Ray Richards, and wife, Regina. Their son, Eric, now lives there.
Just to the left is another lane with a wooden bridge that crosses the creek that gave the road its name, Leeson Run. That road leads to the old Huffard house that was purchased by Thurman and Ethal Jones Jr. who lived there for many years before moving to Ohio for better work opportunities. Ray and Loragale Richards (my parents) purchased the property in 1960 and raised six children there. (This is my childhood home.) Today, my brother, David, and his wonderful wife, Kathleen Richards have the privilege of calling this sacred place home.
Ray Richards Homeplace
As we move down the old dirt road (now blacktopped), we come to a small left turn. There was a Yankee-frame house there when I was a child, but it’s gone now. It was the home of “Grandma” Lizzy, Inez “Innie” Britton, and her two sons, Bobby Monroe and Eugene Keys. They were good neighbors, and her sons were hunting buddies to my brother, Ray.
Grandma Lizzy, Inez Britton, Bobby & Eugene’s rented home
A newer home was built a short distance farther down the road by Ernie and Janet Sheets on the right. A long, picturesque driveway leads to the ranch-style home that was also home to their beautiful daughter, Sarah. Janet was a personal friend of mine, the kind of which can never be matched.
Just across the meadow on the left is an ancient hand-carved stone spring beneath an outcropping. The water never went dry even in the hottest months of the year. It is said that the work was done by ancient Indians in the area.
The meadow below the road was a small narrow house beside the creek that was home to the Hoalcraft family. Sadly, a small baby was killed there when a window fell on its neck as it was trying to get out of it. That house always had an eerie, unhealthy air to it. As children, we were told it was haunted. That was enough to keep us far away from it.
Hoalcraft House
Up a small grade brings us to the old one-room school, Leeson Run Grade School. I’m not certain if it is still standing, but it was behind the house built by Robert and Brenda Todd. My brother, Ray, and sister, Jane attended their early grades there before being transferred to Greenwood when Leeson Run School closed.
Old Leeson Run School
Next week, I’ll finish the journey and tell you some very interesting stories about murder, missing heads, and revenge that lingers to this day. These stories make scary storytelling, especially around a warm campfire. I believe you’ll enjoy them.
God Bless
Patricia Richards Harris, President
Doddridge County Historical Society