Drawdy mountain/creek

 

                I was doing a little research on Drawdy falls, like I always do about places I visit (I’m a nerd). I didn’t really intend on making a post about it, especially since I’m right in the middle of writing another post buuuut you know how it is, I found some interesting stuff

                If you drive on the stretch of route 3 (Daniel Boone parkway) that goes through Peytona in Boone County, you might drive right past the Drawdy falls roadside park and not even notice it. You should really stop and check it out if you get a chance. The falls are located on the opposite side of the road from the picnic tables and signs. Theres also an “almost heaven” swing for a nice photo opp.

                The falls themselves (there are two) are on the Drawdy creek, which eventually flows into the Big Coal River. The Falls are very pretty and are unmistakably West Virginia but there is more to this creek, and mountain, than meets the eye. As with most places in WV, Drawdy mountain has historical significance.

                The creek, mountain (Drawdy mountain) and nearby Drawdy cemetery, which has graves of veterans from almost every US war, are all three likely named for early settler, Ezekial Drawdy (sometimes spelled Droddy).  I found an article written by Thomas Upton Cobbs, who was a son of Flemming Cobbs. I wrote a post about Flemming awhile back, I’ll link it with this one. I really need to just write one big blog post about the early settlers. He Wrote about things his dad told him about being an Indian spy for Charles Clendenin (he spelled it Clendenon). Charles was George Clendenin’s father and is the namesake of Charleston. Originally, they named the city Charles town but had to rename it because there was already one of those.  I don’t think anyone really knows how they landed on Charleston as a replacement. George Clendenin is credited with founding Charleston. He’s also the namesake of, you guessed it, the town of Clendenin. He talks about Flemming, John Young, who was married into my family, John’s wife, Keziah, was an ancestor of mine, and Daniel Boone.

                He tells a story about the spies meeting up at the mouth of what is now known as Drawdy creek. Ezekial got there first this time and while he was waiting on the other men, he killed a buffalo. Since then, the Creek has been called Drawdy Creek. Some sources say the creek and mountain are named for Ezekial’s brother, William, but I think I’ll take Thomas Cobbs’ word. He goes on to talk about a couple of other creeks. He didn’t mention Cobbs creek though, which is funny because you’d think he’d mention the creek named for his father. Maybe he wasn’t aware of it but it’s ok because I have it in the other post I mentioned. I have also read about Cooper’s Creek Road in Big Chimney (and I’m assuming the creek itself too) being named for Leonard Cooper, another early settler in the area. I love reading about and writing about the early settlers. Hopefully I can keep their memory alive.

                The area around the falls has evidence of at least two native American camps, dating as far back as 1,000AD and that’s facts but there is a local legend that the fossil remains of a saber- toothed tiger were found on Drawdy mountain. I can’t find any records of this to support the claim though. Other places in West Virginia have had saber- toothed tiger fossils found, and other fossils have been found in Boone County.

                Not far from the falls is the birthplace of John Edward Kenna.  Who’s John Kenna, right? Kenna was an interesting guy. He was very important and well known in West Virginia’s early years, He was a US senator. Theres a statue of him in Washington DC. Kenna was only 24 when he became the prosecuting attorney in 1872 and a few years later was elected circuit judge, then on to the US house of representatives. And he was re-elected to congress several times after that He was a part of the “Kanawha ring” of democrats, alongside others such as Governor William Maccorkle, for whom Maccorkle avenue is named. Kenna worked hard in the Kanawha Valley by improving the Kanawha River navigation system and working to get the capitol moved back to Charleston. Kenna was only 45 when he died but man did he do a lot with his time! Theres a sign at Drawdy falls that says not far from here is the birthplace of John Edward Kenna but I dove further into this and found some sources agree with that, while others say Kanawha County and others say near St. Albans. Like I’ve said before, these old records aren’t always 100% accurate but still, John Edward Kenna was an impressive West Virginian (then Virginian)

                This is also the same area where coal was discovered in the region. John Peter Salley, who was an English explorer navigated down what is now the Coal River in 1774 and wrote about “a great plenty of coals”. It goes without saying he named it the Coal River. That’s pretty interesting considering coal defines Boone County these days

                As I said earlier, you should really stop and check out the falls if you get a chance. This area is more than just a good phot opp. though. As with all places, we should remember the history when we visit.

-Andrew out

Sources

-Thomas Upton Cobbs, Ezekial Droddy (about 1759—after 1805), wikitree.com

-John Peter Salling, Harold Malcom Forbes, 2024, e-wv.org

-Drawdy falls roadside park,theclio.com

-Kenna, John Edward, congress.gov