Notes for: Luke Jaco
The Harrisonburg Rockingham Register, Oct 12 1849, reprinted the following account of an altercation between Luke Jaco and George Whitehair:
"The Clarksburg (Va.) Democrat gives the following account of an attempt to commit a murder in Doddridge County:
"In consequence of some difficulty existing between George Whitehaire and Luke Jaco, both of Doddridge county, a rencontre ensued between them on the 14th inst. It appears that the difficulty grew out of some threats made by Whitehare, concerning Jaco, who becoming alarmed at the threats and other demonstrations of hostility, swore out a peace warrant, which was placed in the hands of an officer of the peace, who, from fear or some other cause, failed to execute it. On the next morning, Whitehare placed himself at the gate of Jaco's pasture field with a loaded gun in his hand, and awaited the arrival of Jaco. When Jaco arrived, some altercation took place, when Whitehare levelled his gun and fired on Jaco, shattering his right arm to a considerable extent; loose pieces of bone came out of the wound. Whitehare, perceiving that Jaco was likely to escape, pursued him to the fence and attacked him with the gun. Jaco, though severely wounded, succeeded in crossing the fence, and Whitehare, fearing that his victim was not mortally wounded, followed him some fifty yards and attacked him again with a large stone, leaving him to all appearance lifeless on the road. Whitehare made his escape but left his gun on the ground."
1850 Census, Doddrige County, Virginia (now West Virginia), enumerated on Sep 28 1850:
Luke Jaco, 43, farmer, value of real estate $5,000; Elizabeth Jaco, 33, unable to read & write; Benjamin F. Jaco, 6; Silvester Mott, 65, farmer, unable to read & write; Ann Cross, 18. All born in Virginia. (Note: Sylvester Mott was found in Hampshire County in the censuses of 1820, 1830 and 1840.)
(Note: Doddridge Co marriage records show that on Apr 11 1858, Ann(e)(a) Cross, 27, b. Harrison Co, res. Doddridge Co, married Joseph J. Lilley, widower, 33, b. Pa, son of Joseph C. & Esther Lilley. Her marriage record identifies her father as Richard Cross, but other researchers report Nimrod Cross. She died in 1921 in Riley County, Kansas.)
In the next household: Shadrack Whitehare, 22, farmer; Mary E. Whitehare, 20.
The 1850 Federal Census Slave Schedule for Doddridge County, enumerated on Jul 16 1850, contains the following entry:
Slave owner: Luke Jaco. Description of slave: Mulatto male, age 2.
Doddridge County Crinmal Court File #165
2 Apr 1852, Doddridge County , (West) Virginia
Sylvester Mott and Luke Jaco were accused of an assault and battery on Adam J. Gain.
1860 Census, Doddridge County, Virginia (now West Virginia), enumerated on Jul 18 1860:
Luke Jaco, 52, farmer, value of real estate $6,000, value of personal estate $4,000; E. Jaco (female), 46.
Adjacent households were those of two prominent Doddridge County families. On one side was the household of the founder of Smithburg, Francis M. F. Smith (value of real estate $4,000, value of personal estate $1080). On the other side was the household of politician and extensive landowner Franklin Maxwell (value of real estate $50,000, value of personal estate $8,000).
The 1860 Federal Census Slave Schedule for Doddridge County, enumerated on Jun 1 1860, contains the following entry:
Slave owner: Luke Jaco
Description of slaves:
1 black female, age 33
1 mulatto male, age 13
1 black male, age 10
1 black female, age 7
The 1851 edition of Thomson's Mercantile and Profession Directory of Virginia contained the following entry for Doddridge County:
[http://www.newrivernotes.com/topical_business_thomsons_mercantile_directory_virginia_1851.htm]
General Dealers in Dry Goods, Groceries, Hardware, &c:
Chapman & Jones, Greenwood.
Inghram Arthur, West Union.
Leurn Win. M., do.
McJunkin Joshua, do.
Meserve Charles, do.
Grocers:
Foley James A., West Union.
Lefever Jesse W., New Milton.
Attorneys:
Hewitt Edwin L., West Union.
Judson Benj. W., do.
Physicians:
Bond Ethelbert, West Union.
Charter L. R., do.
Ingle John J., do.
Hotel Keepers:
Davis David D., County.
Jaco Luke, do.
Johnston Addison A., do.
Smith Francis M. T., do.
Francis D. Hickman, County Clerk.