Elias Lively [203]

  General Notes:

Elias was a doctor specializing in diphtheria patients and a maker of shoes and boots. He was bald with a scruffy appearing white beard. Elias was a property owner on Town Creek and Paint Creek in Fayette County, West Virginia. He farmed on occasion. Migrated from Monroe County, West Virginia on foot. From Darlington's book; CABINS OF THE LOUP, "Before age 32, Elias was unanimously recommended to the governor of Virginia by the justices of Fayette County Court for the office of Justice of the Peace. He took the oath and office in 1856."


PAINT CREEK - A SMALL HISTORY (Near Pax, Maple Fork, Cirtsville)

Until the 1830's, Paint Creek was under the control of the Shawnee Indian tribe and used it for hunting in many places along the stream. In one particular location the tribe had cleared the under brush and took it upon themselves to decorate the area with red dye; covering rocks, tree branches, and in places, the ground itself. From this bizarre enterprise, the name "Paint Creek" was derived.

The early settlers to the Paint Creek region came after 1820, a result of a treaty with the Shawnee Indians, although there remained persistant trouble with the Indians of the area for a considerable time. David Williams was the first to build a structure, a cabin on Upper Paint Creek (Wriston Farm on Maple Fork). Later David Williams built yet another cabin on the lower end of Paint Creek (Amos Williams Farm).

Others located in the region; Williams, Maynors, Feazells, Tyrees, Steagells, Kidds and Spanglers.

The first industry was in Cirtsville, a whiskey distillery own by Nathan Purdy, then came Spangler's Mill utilizing the water power of the area.

ANOTHER SMALL HISTORY OF THE SETTLEMENT AT LIVELY, WEST VIRGINIA.

The first attempt made at a settlement on Paint Creek at Lively was by five families whose names we have failed to get. They came from the valley of Virginia in quest of homes for themselves and family. They traversed a great part of what is now Greenbrier, Summers and Raleigh Counties and coming down Paint Creek they arrived at what is now known as Town Creek and were captivated with the rich level bottom land so they halted and began building rude log huts for their families. They cleared small patches of ground where they raised some corn, turnips and pumpkins. There was plenty of all kinds of game in that section at that time and the settlers were getting along very well when one day they were visited by some passing Indians who did not say much, but the settlers could see that they did not welcome them to their hunting grounds. However, things went on very well for a year or so until the Indians began to visit this section oftener and in large numbers. The settlers felt that for the safety of their families it was necessary for them to build a fort into which all could gather in the event of an attack by the Indians. They built this fort and put strong palisades around it and everytime they heard of the approach of Indians, would gather within the palisades at night and resume work on their farms or in hunting during the day. Several battles, it is said, were fought here between these settlers and the Indians. Several of the settlers were captured and carried away as prisoners, and those remaining became discouraged and returned to their old homes back in the valley of Virginia.

The first permanent settlement was made at Lively when in 1844, Joseph Lively of Monroe County bought 4,000 acres of land off the Reed Patent on Paint Creek and Plum Orchard, and in 1845 Elias Lively, son of Joseph Lively, came with his young wife, built a comfortable log house near where he later built a much better residence and where he lived all the remainder of his days.

Elias Lively, or Dr. Lively, as he was appropriately called, was one of the most useful men in the county. There was at the time a great many cases of diphtheria and it usually proved fatal. Dr. Lively discovered several herbs from which he made a compound, which if administered in time never failed to cure a patient. He was called far and near, and was successful in curing many patients of diphtheria when all other doctors seemed to fail. He lived to a ripe old age and died at his home in the year 1915 at the age of 89. Thus ended the life of a much respected and useful citizen.

Later came Rufus Lively, brother of Elias Lively, and settled at what is now Hance Williams place, where he built a good log house, cleared a large tract of land and was very prosperous in farming and cattle raising.

Next came Levi Lively who settled on Plum Orchard Creek ay what is known as the Ranse Fisher place. He had two sons, James and Joseph, who settled on their father's estate but later sold and moved elsewhere. Isaac Ellison, who married a Lively, sister to Rufus and Levi, settled near the mouth of Plum Orchard Creek on land given his wife by her father and built a grist and saw mill where he ground all kinds of grain and cut lumber for the people of the surrounding community. It is said that people came a distance of twenty miles to this mill.

Paint Creek land has always been noted for its fertility, and from the beginning the settlers were all very prosperous. They raised large quantities of corn, wheat, oats, hay, vegetable and fruits of all kinds. They raised sheep, cattle and hogs, and this has always been looked upon as one of the best and most prosperous neighborhoods in the county. The Livelys have always taken an active part in religious matters and education. Soon after the settlement was made they built a Baptist Church and have always maintained a church organization. At an early date in the settlement they got together and built a log school house where all the children attended School for three or four months each year. This settlement surely and truly has the right name for it is said that at one time in history of the school there were 32 students enrolled in the school and thirty of them were Livelys. The other two were a son and daughter of James Wingrove who had married a daughter of Rufus Lively and settled in this community.

There was a Post Office established at Lively known as Roseville with Jacob Lively as postmaster. Mr. Lively kept the post office in his store for many years but it was finally discontinued and the community is now furnished with mail by RFD from Scarbro and some get mail at Long Branch. The Virginian Railroad passes entirely through this community with good freight service and two passenger trains each way every day. They also have a hard road from Mount Hope reaching almost to this section which gives them splendid opportunities to get out and in, and also to market their products.


NEWS NOTES Vol 18 No. 2 Summer 2001 (Fayette / Raleigh County Genealogical Society Newsletter.

Interview with Dennis Keffer by Jeanette Sue Fox . . . "I'll tell you something about my grandfather, because he was the first one the Indians let live in this country. He walked in from Monroe County in the 1830's, I don't remember the exact date. There was an Indian village down there at the time. He was the first white man that they let stay in here. He got in good with them, they learned him about herbs and medicines. He was a diphtheria doctor. He went all over the country to treat people with diphtheria."

"His name was Elias Lively. He stayed here two years, then came back to Monroe County and married Letha Fleshmann. Then they came back here and built a log cabin and raised a big family. He had a land grant. He came in here surveying and had over 4,000 acres at that time. He gave it to his brothers and sisters."

IMPRESSIONS BY SUSAN DAVIS DIXON

"Seems like everything I've heard and read leads me to believe that Elias was a very well educated man, either from book learning or from observation and inquiry. He was always listed as a farmer but family members all tell that he doctored everyone in the area. They mention natural herbs and medicines which would lend credence to the stories that he learned these things from the Native Americans in the area."

"He also had a reputation as a generous man. He helped everyone regardless of their circumstances, financial or social. He shared his home, food, and knowledge."

"The photo I have of him shows a gentle giant. He appears large in height and broad across the shoulders. No telling how old he is. He is sitting beside his first wife, Letha Ann Fleshmann, posing for the photo. Both have their hands crossed on their laps and are dressed in their finer clothes. Elias has a scruffy white beard and is beginning to bald on top. There isn't the usual scowl that I've noticed in most photos of people from those times, but a pleasant grandfatherly look. Obviously I never knew the man, but over the course of my research he is the one I would have most liked to have known."

ELIAS LIVELY RAISED LARGE FAMILY AT LIVELY

The first known permanent settler in Lively was Joseph Lively who came from Monroe county in 1784 and purchased 4000 acres of land. His son, Elias, came in 1884 to what is known as Town Creek in Lively. He lived in an Indian hut while building a log cabin to bring his wife to. Lively later built a much better resident where he lived until his death in 1914.

In 1845, Rufus Lively, brother of Elias Lively, settled at what is now known as the Uncle Hance Williams place, where he built a log house and raised a family.

Soon after the settlement the Laurel Grove Baptist church was built in 1893. A log school was built whose enrollment of 32 pupils, included 30 Livelys.

The other two children were those of James grove who had married a daughter of Rufus Lively.
Elias Lively, known as Dr. Lively, raised a large family each of whom was given farms where most all built homes. Mrs. Mertie Keffer the only living one of Dr. Lively's children, still lives in her home at Lively.

Other children of Joseph Lively to settle here were Levi Lively, settling at Plum Orchard, on what is known as the Ranse Fisher place and now part of the Plum Orchard Lake site. A sister of the three married an Ellison and settled at the mouth of Plum Orchard to run a grist and sawmill.
A post office was also established in the store of Jacob Lively and was known as the Roseville post office. Mail is now by RFD from Scarbro.

(The Fayette Tribune; September 26, 1963; Section 3, Page 3.)

Land Grant: Fayette County 1858 - 372 acres Town Creek.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Census. per 1850 Census (Virginia, Fayette, Roll 943 Book 1, pg 367)

• Family. Picture from "Beckley, USA" by Harlow Warren published in 1955 and shows old photo of Elias and his daughters Elizabeth and her sister.

• Family. This picture shows four of Elias' son. The gentleman in the back is reported to Elsey Lorenzo Lively who has been added to the photo electronically! If you look closely, his clothes are out of place!!

Elias married Letha Ann Fleshmann [210] [MRIN: 149], daughter of Thomas John Fleshmann [34718] and Rebecca W. Roach [34717], on 9 Jun 1847 in Monroe County, West Virginia. (Letha Ann Fleshmann [210] was born on 6 Nov 1821 in Monroe County, Virginia, died on 24 Nov 1872 in Fayette County, West Virginia and was buried in Lively Cemetery, Fayette County, West Virginia.)

Elias next married Mandanna S. Canterbury [2211] [MRIN: 150], daughter of William L. Canterbury [2118] and Anna Comer [11648], on 17 Jan 1878 in Fayette County, West Virginia. (Mandanna S. Canterbury [2211] was born on 5 Jan 1854 in Lindside, Monroe County, West Virginia and died on 26 Jan 1919 in Town Creek, Fayette County, West Virginia.)