BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Page 680.

LEWIS SUTTON
 
Lewis Sutton, one of the early and prominent settlers of Belmont county, was
born in Peapack, N. J., in 1793. His father, Jonathan Sutton, and his mother,
Hannah (Hayden) Sutton, were born in New England. They were of English descent,
and removed to New Jersey on account of the blue laws. He served in the
Revolutionary war. In 1807 he removed with his family to Ohio, purchasing a
farm two and one-half miles south of St. Clairsville, where he died in 1831.
The farm has ever since been owned by some of his family. Lewis Sutton learned
the wheel-wright trade, which he pursued while a young man. Afterward he
formed a partnership with Mr. John Patton, and started a store in St. Clairs-
ville, and continued in that business some years. In 1817 he married Eleanor
McWilliams, who was born near St. Clairsville, in 1799, while as yet Ohio was
a territory. Her father, David McWilliams, and her mother, Mary (Wilson)
McWilliams, were born in Washington county, Penn., and moved to the place
where St. Clairsville now stands when the only road was a pathway through
the forest, which had been trodden by the Indians. He helped to raise the
first house in St. Clairsville, and had also helped to raise the first two
houses in Wheeling, W. Va., and purchased a farm adjoining and west of the
town. He was one of the organizers of the First Presbyterian church, which
was the only church in St. Clairsville for a number of years. He remained
a ruling elder in that church until his death in 1845. In 1844 Lewis Sutton
purchased a farm of 214 acres, two and one-half miles east of St. Clairsville,
where he died in April, 1882. His family consisted of six children: Mary W.,
William Van Dorn, Ellen M., and Sophia H. died previous to him. The only
remaining ones are Mrs. George Brown, of St. Clairsville, and David M. Sutton.
David M., the only surviving son, now owns and resides on the old homestead.
In 1864 he was married to Mary R., daughter of William and Eleanor (Brown)
McMechan. Their family consists of three children: LuEllen M., William Van
Dorn and Lewis M.