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Bland Hills, WV
The Bland Hills is an area located just off US highway 33 in the western part of Pendleton County near Riverton, WV and close to Germany Valley and Seneca Rocks. Geographically at the lower end of Germany Valley, the Bland Hills area is the location of the home and farm of Daniel A. and America R. Landes.
Toward the upper end of the Bland Hills, in a location just overlooking Germany Valley, a number of Dolly families had settled, especially John Dolly (Johann Dohle) -- just after the Revolutionary War, and consequently, this specific area of the Bland Hills is known locally as the Dolly Hills. America Rebecca Dolly was the daughter of Job Dolly, and she became the wife of Daniel A. Landes in 1871 and they settled in the Dolly Hills on the Job Dolly farm sometime around 1900.
See here for an interesting description and guide for a driving tour through the Bland Hills.
Although today, Rivertion, WV is the only close town with a post offce near the Bland Hills area, during the lifetime of D. A. Landes there were other communities with post offices, especially:
Macksville, WV
Box, WV
Circleville, WV ( 'Mt. Freedom')
Key, WVHere is some information about various post offices in the surrounding area gleaned from old copies of the West Virginia State Gazetteer :
1882:
Macksville: A country village situated in the western part of Pendleton count, 12 miles form Pendleton (c h) [court house in Franklin], 110 from Wheeling, and 65 from Keyser, its shipping poin on the B. & O. R. R. Ships produce. Mail, daily. P. McDonald, posstmaster.
Day B P & Co, general sstore.
Harper George & son, general store.
Harper J B, general store.
McDonald Peter, Wagonmaker, Blacksmith and Justice of the Peace.-----
Box. Not mentioned
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Circleville. Not listed as a specific community, but referenced as "Mount Freedom". Mount Freedom was one of the postal routes mentioned in the 1872 Congressional Record for which Jesse Landes was awarded the bid.
Mount Freedon: Also called Circleville. A village of 125 inhabitants, in Pendleton county, 13 miles west of Franklin (c h), 115 from Wheeling, and 70 from Staunton, Va. on the C & O. Ry, its shipping point. Exports live stock and produce. Mail, semi-weekly. L. Lambert, postmaster.
Dowe (Dove?) N F. flour mill.
Johnson S R, blacksmith.
Johnston (sic) MS, blacksmith.
Judy W H, physician.
Lambert L, General store.
Lambert, Harper & Co, general store.
Mauzy M & Co, general store.
Mill Sol, boot and shoemaker.
Phares John, constable.
Phares S W, general store.
Porter J. A., boot and shoemaker
Prest [sic - it's Priest] F. M, physician.
Whiston M, justice of peace.----
Key. Not mentioned.
----
Riverton. Not mentioned.
1892:
Macksville: A country village situated in the western part of Pendleton count, 12 miles form Pendleton the judicial seat [Franklin], 110 from Wheeling, and 37 from Davis, its nearest shipping point. Population 100. Mail, semi-weekly. Peter McDonald, postmaster.
Graham J W, millwright.
Harman Adam, carding mill.
Harman & Hollen, general store.
McDonald Peter, Blacksmith, Undertaker and Notary.
Painter John, blacksmith and wagonmkr.
Paul John, saddler.
Shell Taylor, jewler.----
Box: Not mentioned.
----
Key: Not mentioned.
----
Circleville [no longer mented as Mount Freedom]: A village of 100 inhabitants, in Pendleton county, 13 miles west of Franklin C. H., 115 from Wheeling, and 65 from Staunton, Va., on the C. & O. Ry, its nearest shipping point. Henry Harper, postmasster.
Calhoun A F, jeweler.
Downe N F, flour mill.
Harper Henry, General Store and Flour Mill.
Hoover Adam, blacksmith.
Lambert A M blacksmith.
Lands Cyrus, shoemaker.
Mallon B W, blacksmith.
Mulleax S W & N A S, saw mill.
Mulleax W J, general store.
Pennington Dyre, shoemaker
Prest [sic - it's Priest] F M, physician.
Smith & Bennett, general store.----
Riverton: Not mentioned.
1900:
Macksville: A country village situated in the western part of Pendleton count, 12 miles form Pendleton the judicial seat [Franklin], 110 from Wheeling, and 37 from Davis, its nearest shipping point. Population 100. Mail, semi-weekly. Peter McDonald, postmaster.
Graham J W, millwright.
Harman Adam, carding mill.
Harman & Hollen, general store.
McDonald Peter, Blacksmith, Undertaker and Notary.
Painter John, blacksmith and wagonmkr.
Paul John, saddler.
Shell Taylor, jewler.----
Box: Not mentioned.
----
Key: Not mentioned.
----
Circleville: Population. 150. Formerly known as Mt. Freedom. Is a village in Pendleton county, 13 miles west of Franklin, the county seat and banking point, and 26 miles from Harman, its shipping point. Is on the south branch of the Potomac river. Telephone connected. Mail daily. E. A. Lambert, postmoster.
Bennett M T, carpenter
Calhoun A F, jeweler and justice
Cooke Bros, Carpenter
Dove Nimrod F, flour mill.
Greenfield J W, exp and r r agent.
Johnston W W, genl store.
Klein E I, glacksmith.
Lambert Harper & Co, General Store, Flour and Feed Mill.
Lambert J K, physician.
Lambert S K, blacksmith.
Lantz William L, harnessmaker.
Mullex S W, justice of the peace.
Nelso W D, constable.
Priest Francis M, physician.
Smith I C, Lumber mnfr.
Warner E. A. hote.----
Riverton: A postoffice in Pendleton county, 18 miles from Franklin, the county seat and banking point, and 20 from Harman, the shipping point. J. A. Harman, posstmaster.
Dolly S P, genl store.
Dom J F, grist mill.
Harman J A & Co, General Store.
Sponaugh [sic] A P & Co, genl store.1904: None of the local communities are listed in this Gazetteer.
Macksville: Population, 20. A country postoffice in the western part of Pendleton county, 17 miles northwest of Franklin, the county seat and banking point, and 16 from Haerman, its nearest shipping point. Telephone connection. Mail, daily. Henry E Harper postmaster.
Harper Henry E, Carpenter.
Herkle [sic - probably Henkle] Jacob P. flourmill.
McDonald Peter, blacksmith.----
Box: A village in Pendleton county, 13 miles northwest of Franklin, the county seat and banking point, and 20 from Harman, its shipping point. Telephone connection. Mail daily. D A Landes postmaster.
Crowel Rev J S (U B).
Cunningham R S, carpenter.
Dolly Job, blacksmith.
Dove Jacob, flour mill.
Farmers' Mercantile Co, general store.
Grady Rev George W (Dunkard).
Graham A W, justice.
Harman Miss Ida, school teacher.
Holliday Rev J A (M E).
Landes D A, Civil Engineer and Notary.
Phares R S. constable.
Thompson J W. mason.
Warner W C, distiller.----
Key: Not mentioned.
----
Circleville: Population, 150. Formerly known as Mt. Freedom, a village in Pendleton county, 13 miles west of Franklin, the county seat and banking point, and 26 from harman, its shipping poionty. Is on the north fork of the south branch of the Potomac river. Telephone connection. Mail , daily. E A Lambert postmaster.
Bennett M T, carpenter.
Calhoun A F, jeweler.
Circlevill Mills, saw mill.
Cook Bros, carpenters.
Dove & Bennett, flour mill.
Jordan L H, physician.
Kline D E, blacksmith.
Lambert E A, General Store
Lamber G R, shoemaker.
Mangy O J, gener store.
Mulleaux S W, justice.
Smith IU C, luber manufacturer,
Teter O Z, gneneral store.
Vandevender C T, justice.
Warner E A, hotel.----
Riverton: Not mentioned.
1918:
Macksville: Population, 30. In Pendlton County, 18 miles northwest of Franklin, the county seat, and 16 southeast of Harman, its nearest banking and shipping point. Express, American. U B church. Telephone connection. Stage daily to Circleville, fare 75 cents; to Harmon, $1.25. Mail daily. H E Harper, postmaster.
Harman B P hardware and agrl implements.
Harman, Hinkle & Co, general store.
Harper H E & Co, Geberal Store.
Hinkle Jacob P, grist mill.----
Box: Population 250. In Pendleton County, 13 miles northwest of Franklin, the county seat and banking point, and 24 from harman, its shipping point. U B Church. Telephone connection. Mail daily. W D. Simmons, postmaster.
Bland Curtis, blacksmith.
Cunningham G G, carpenter.
Cunningham R G, carpenter.
Landes Mrs Zella, music teacher.
Nelson Wm, live stock.
Simmons Clyde, painter.
Simmons W D, General Store.----
Key: Population 30. In Pendleton County, 15 miles northwest of Franklin, the county seat and banking point, and 17 southeast of Harman, the nearest shipping pooint. Express, American. Telephone connection. Stage daily to Harman fare $1.50. Mail tri-weekly. Ulysses S. Harman postmaster.
Dolly Noah, harness maker.
Dolly O S, contractor.
Harman Cecil, Saw Mill.
Huffman G D, live stock.
Nelson E P. mail contractor.
Painter J S, blacksmith.
Summerfield Alfred, R R and exp agt.
Warner W L, blacksmith.----
Circleville: Population, 150. Formerly known as Mt. Freedom, a village in Pendleton county, 13 miles west of Franklin, the county seat and banking point, and 26 from harman, its shipping poionty. Is on the north fork of the south branch of the Potomac river. Telephone connection. Mail , daily. E A Lambert postmaster.
Bennett M T, carpenter.
Calhoun A F, jeweler.
Circlevill Mills, saw mill.
Cook Bros, carpenters.
Dove & Bennett, flour mill.
Jordan L H, physician.
Kline D E, blacksmith.
Lambert E A, General Store
Lamber G R, shoemaker.
Mangy O J, gener store.
Mulleaux S W, justice.
Smith IU C, luber manufacturer,
Teter O Z, gneneral store.
Vandevender C T, justice.
Warner E A, hotel.----
Riverton: Population 100. In Pendleton County, 18 miles northwest of Franklin, the county seat, 20 from Harman, the banking and shipping point, and 50 from Elkins. Express, American. U B Church. Telephone connection. Stage daily to Harman, fare $1.60. Mail daily. John A Harman, postmaster.
Dove R E & Co, millers.
Harman J. A. General Store.
Raines Ora, general store and hotel.
Teter C G, general store.
Teter J M, physician.----
Nome: Also known as Hunting Ground. Population 180. In plendleton County, 18 miles west of Franklin, the county seat and banking town, and 20 south of Horton, the shipping point. Stage daily to Harmon, fare $2.00. Mail semi-weekly, R D fron Circleville.
Helmick George, general store.
Jordan L H, physician.
Newcomb Don, teacher.
Wimer Tiberius, blacksmith.
