ions in any other place, so shall the foresaid Heir to
the House yearly pay her Six Pounds ready money and this is my
well considered desire.

"JOIST HITE."

"And Likewise wife, I Maria Magadalena promise the aforesaid
Joist Hite. First of all, Love and Obedience. Secondly, I am
designed to bring with me to him some cattle, money, household
goods which in agreement with attested witnesses shall be
Described and should I die before the said Hite so shall the
said Hite have the half thereof and the other half shall be
delivered back again to my heirs and this is also my well
considered desire. Thirdly and Lastly, whoever of the aforesaid
persons shall die first the half of the portion the Woman
brings with her shall go back to her heirs."

The following goods were brought by the said Mary Magadelena to Joist
Hite:

"1 In ready money, twenty two pounds seventeen Shillings and
four pence.

2 Two mares one colt value of fourteen pounds.

3 Two drawing steers value three pounds, ten shillings.

4 Two coarse beds Cloathes in all three pounds, Sixteen
Shillings and six pence. And said money is adjudged to be in
Virginia Currency the 16th day of November, 1741, also one
horse mare, six pounds."

Another neighbor pioneering in the Valley was Jacob Stover who secured
land grants. History records that he resorted to unusual methods in
obtaining them. Upon application, it was necessary to convince the
authorities that the applicant could furnish a sufficient number of
families to settle the land requested. Stover did not have the required
number. He took himself to England to petition the King and in order to
be convincing he gave names to every living thing he possessed--dogs,
sheep, horses, cows and pigs! After his successful trip which resulted
in receiving the land grant, he commenced selling small acreages to the
new-comers. He enriched himself materially, but incurred the wrath of
his associates.

German Neighbors

QUAKERS

Long ago, a shrewd trader from New York, John VanMeter, came into the
Valley. He made friends with the Delawares and often went with them on
their hunting trips. Once he even fought on their side against their
enemies, the Catawbas. While on this visit South, he saw for the first
time the fertile native grass, which grew "five