Bunnell’s Run, Pennsboro,

Ritchie County, West Virginia

Photo courtesy of William Tidball

From "History of Ritchie County" written by Minnie Kendall Lowther, and published in 1910.
Transcribers are Janet Waite, Earl Cowan, Erin Stewart, Bonnie Ryan, Margaret Udell, Sylvia Cox and Laura Heath. (http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvritchi/MKL_HRC1.htm#2)

Chapter II, Page 23.

The first one of these cabins [built] within the present boundary of Ritchie county was built by John Bunnell, near the beginning of the year 1800, on the site that is now marked by the thriving town of Pennsboro. Hence the origin of the name of the stream near by, "Bunnell's run", which serves as an enduring memorial, although we have been unable to learn "from whence he came or whither he went."

Mr. Bunnell sold his possessions here to John Webster, of New England, who, early in the nineteenth century, built the "Stone house" at the western end of Pennsboro, which became the property of James Martin, in 1815, and remained in the hands of his heirs until the autumn of 1908, when it was purchased by A.J. Ireland.

Note. I haven’t identified who this John Bunnell is. But, assuming that he is already in Claude Bunnell's database, he could be John Bunnell 001540. All we know about him is that he served in the Viriginia Militia in 1814 and was born in the 1780’s.

If you have information about or a photo of the stream and would like to share it please contact Charlie.

Updated 14 November 2005