Our West Virginia Heritage
The people of West Virginia, especially those who are descendants of the Greenbrier territory in West Virginia, have always been proud of their culture and heritage. They are well known for their hardiness, resourcefulness and independence; their honesty, bravery and willingness to stand up for their beliefs. The history of the people of this region began well over 300 years ago. It paints a fascinating picture of how the state has evolved and has earned the title of ‘Almost Heaven.’
Appalachia is a vast mountain system located in the eastern section of the United States. West Virginia is the only state that is contained entirely within Appalachia. Other states include Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland and New York. Appalachia has been dubbed ‘the first American frontier’ by many historians.
Appalachia, an Indian name meaning “Endless Mountains,” is well suited to the land. The Appalachians are one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world and were at one time higher in elevation than the Himalayas are today. The territory was originally home to many of the eastern Indian tribes, including the Iroquois, the Mohicans, the Cherokee and the Shawnee.
European immigrants began settling the area in the mid seventeen hundreds. These early pioneers were primarily of Scottish, Irish, English, German and Dutch ancestry, and to a lesser extent African American, Swiss and Italian. Because of the unrelenting and foreboding nature of the mountain range and its numerous ridges and valleys, the frontier families were extremely isolated from the outside world, rarely having contact with people who were not from their own tightly knit communities. Many of the heavily forested areas Appalachia were dubbed ‘Shades of Death,’ because the height of the trees and the denseness of the tangled underbrush created a perpetual darkness that the sun could not break through in order to light the valley floors, even on the sunniest days. Many of the early settlers who made their way into what is now Greenbrier County in West Virginia did so after coming to the United States as indentured servants on the eastern coast. When their years of service ended, they packed their meager belongings and moved into the mountains where they could obtain free land.
Doctors were almost nonexistent, and there were few churches. Religious services were usually held in local homes and took place only a few times each year. There were no established schools, so most of the pioneers were illiterate. Neighbors learned to respect and trust one another, with little regard as to their cultural background, and communities became melting pots, where the citizens intermarried until there was scarcely a person that was not related to everyone else either by marriage or blood.
As time passed the Appalachian people, already bred from strong and hardy bloodlines that respected free thinking and self-reliance, became isolationistic and suspicious of anyone or anything new. Outsiders often referred to the mountain regions as ‘a place that time forgot.’
Over the years, the homesteaders developed an intricate system of folklore that combined the stories, music, omens, superstitions and beliefs of the various ethnic extractions that inhabited Appalachia. These traditions were passed on orally from one generation to the next and were strictly observed in order to insure the continuation of their way of life.
Even the language spoken by the frontier people evolved separately from that of the rest of the country. To this day, mountaineers use words like ‘afeared’ for afraid, ‘deef’ for deaf, ‘arn’ for iron, ‘cheer’ for chair, and the list goes on and on. The ‘e’ sound was often pronounced as an ‘a’ sound, changing words such as there and where to ‘thar and whar.’
Religion played a major part in the history of the Appalachian pioneers. Their way of life was characterized by a strong sense of independence and an inherent distrust of religious hierarchies. Many of their beliefs were influenced and modified by early interaction with the Shawnee and Cherokee people, as well as by the African religions. Some of these modifications are still in evidence in present day religious services in Appalachia, including creek baptism, foot washing, chanted preaching and congregational ‘shouting.’
Because of the lack of trained medical personnel and hospitals, the mountain people frequently relied on chants or remedies based on biblical texts for healing or protection from evil. Native Americans taught the settlers about the medicinal properties of many of the local roots and herbs and showed them how to make tonics from them. The friendly native tribes also shared information with the Europeans on how to raise and cultivate crops like squash, beans, and tobacco; and taught them which plants and herbs, such as ramps, could be eaten. They passed on their knowledge of planting during different phases of the moon, and of watching for specific weather patterns to enhance crop growth. Maple syrup was a favorite sweetener of the Native Americans, and the pioneers soon learned the art of tapping the trees and gathering sap.
Many of the local Indian religious beliefs were incorporated into the common folklore of the homesteaders as well. The Indians often practiced ‘Pow Wow,’ which comes from the Native American word ‘powaw,’ meaning ‘he who dreams.’ Pow Wow incorporated a combination of herbs, chants and dream divination for worship and healing ceremonies. The descendants of the Pennsylvania Dutch in particular adopted many aspects of the pow wow religion. In turn, European beliefs were often incorporated into Indian tribal lore.
The pioneers of Appalachia developed a reputation for being talented craftsmen, story tellers, and musicians. And with the advent of modern transportation and technology, they have fully embraced the 21st century and become some of the country’s best workers, soldiers, artists, writers and educators. But their culture and history are still reflected in the wealth of folk tales, omens, signs and superstitions that remain. They are a legacy to future generations, revealing a glimpse into the minds and spirits of the early pioneers who conquered America’s first frontier.
Rupert resident Nancy Richmond is the author of more than 50 books and is a historian, certified genealogist, Greenbrier Historical Society member, and a magazine and newspaper columnist. She focuses on Appalachian folklore and heritage, as well as local genealogy and historical events. She can be reached via email at nancyrichmondbks@aol.com or on Facebook through her Nancy Richmond Books page.