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Don Daniel McMillian: Toney & Williams Plantation one of oldest homes in Wayne County

November 23, 2008 @ 12:00 AM

The Herald-Dispatch

Located at the Ohio River and the mouth of Four Pole Creek is one of the oldest homes in Wayne County.

In 1838, Joseph Naglee and his wife Hannah moved from Philadelphia along with their three children, Ellen, Benjamin and Frank.

Joseph Naglee purchased a 668-acre plantation at the mouth of Four Pole Creek from Jessie Toney. The Cabell County and Wayne County line runs through the middle of the tract. Toney had seven slaves and occupied this plantation from 1811 to 1838. In 1848, Naglee sold this land to William Williams and returned to Philadelphia.

William Williams had seven slaves. The plantation was later inherited by his son Arthur Williams and eventually his granddaughter's daughter Faney Williams. Faney Williams married James H. Marcum, a prominent attorney.

James Marcum's family already controlled 2,800 acres of farm land in Wayne County. Faney and James Marcum's home was one of the major locations for the Underground Railroad and freeing the slaves to Burlington and South Point, Ohio.

In the 1930s, the former plantation was divided into Marcum Subdivision.

Don Daniel McMillian spent 14 years researching the historic families in Cabell County before writing two books "On The Threshold of Splendor: Historic Homes and Families," and "The Underground Railroad Lawrence County, Ohio & Cabell County Virginia." The books are available on Amazon.com and Borders Books, Richard's Hallmark Store and Studio 406 Salon on 9th Street in Huntington.

Courtesy of Don Daniel McMillian

This home is what was the Toney and later the Williams Plantation near the Ohio River in Wayne County.

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