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Williamson, Bazil (1779-1852)
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History of Ritchie County
by Minnie Kendall Lowther
Wheeling News Litho. Co., Wheeling W.Va., 1911

Pages 532-533

ELLENBORO, like all the other railroad towns, came upon the stage
as a station. But as early as 1840, a man by the name of Early,
constructed a blacksmith shop here, and in 1842, a post-office was
established under the name of "Shumley" with Mrs. Williamson as
post-mistress. The land where the village stands was originally
settled by John Wiggner, junior, who sold his possessions here to
Bazil Williamson, some time in the thirties. and went to Harrison
county, where he died.

Mr. Williamson was born in Maryland, in 1779, and in his young
manhood came to Harper's Ferry, where he met and was married to
Miss Margaret Wager, daughter of Mrs. Sarah Harper Wager, and
granddaughter of Joseph Harper, of Baltimore, who was a brother of
Robert Harper, the founder of historic old Harper's Ferry; and from
that place they came to Ellenboro, where Mr. Williamson found a
resting-place in 1852. The country at the time of their arrival,
was in a wild state, and Mrs. Williamson said that it was no
uncommon sight for deer to come and look over their yard fence.
They owned a large estate here, and at the coming of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad, they granted the right of way through it free,
and in honor of the eldest daughter of the family. Miss Ellen
Mariah, the station was called "Ellenboro."

Virginia was the other daughter, and Robert Harper Williamson, of
Washington, D. C. and the late Dr. William L. Williamson, of
Sistersville, who was the first physician of Ellenboro in 1845,
were the sons. Some time after the death of the elder Williamson,
the family removed to Sistersville, where Mrs. Williamson fell
asleep, at the home of her son, Dr. Williamson, and there she
reposes.

The old house where she died, is still occupied by the Williamson
descendants of the fifth generation.

Mrs. Cora L. Thaw Dills, the last surviving daughter of Dr.
Williamson died at Sistersville, in 1910. She was the mother of the
late Dr. R. H. Thaw, of Elizabeth.

George B. Johnson, a grandson of John Wigner, is the oldest man in
this section. His memory carries him back to the time when Rusher's
run, near Ellenboro, was a sugar camp; to the days of bridle-paths,
before the coming of roads, or railroads and he was one of the
builders of the North western turnpike.

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