Nutter Fort History

Nutter Fort got its name from a family by the name of Nutter.
The Nutters were of Scotch-English descent. Coming to America at an early date, Thomas Nutter first settled in Suffex County, Delaware, where his oldest son, Christopher was born. They moved to Augusta County Virginia where the family remained until 1769. At that time they moved to Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and in March 1772 the Nutter brothers, Thomas, Matthew and Christopher came to Harrison County where they built and defended the now famous Nutter's Fort.

A cross-cut saw purchased by Col. Willliam Lowther at Winchester, Virginia and carried by him on horseback over the mountains was used to cut the timber for the Indian Fort. The saw is now in the Museum of Memorial, Continental Hall in Washington, D.C.

History tell us that Thomas Nutter and a company of men chased Indians to near what is now Washburn, Ritchie County, where a leader of the band managed to crawl into a cliff of rocks and his skeleton was found there many years later.

Thomas Nutter the pioneer died in early August, 1808 and is buried in the Nutter's graveyard near where the fort stood. A marker at the Roosevelt-Wilson High School(now West Virginia Business College), marks the site of the actual fort.

The last will of Thomas Nutter lists his survivors, as his wife, Sarah, a son Christopher(married to Rebecca Moorehead), two daughters Rachel(Mrs. Issac Richards) and Mary(Mrs. Richard Hall). Other sons mentioned were Thomas(married to Mary Moorehead), James(married to Ann Davisson, sister of Daniel Davisson "founder of Clarksburg") and another son named Charles.

James Nutter and Ann Davisson Nutter were the parents of Elisha Nutter, father of Samantha Nutter, who married George "Tony" Mills. Much of our town history, from this point revolves around the Mills family. In an interview given in 1933, Mr. Tony Mills remembers times past when only three houses stood in the area. The Richard Fowkes old log house where the Goodwin brick residence was(in 1933). The Nutter's log home was near the end of Maryland Avenue at the Clarksburg-Buckhannon Road, and the Andrew Nutter log house stood near the 1933, Granville Kester home.

Mr. & Mrs. Mills operated the toll gate for many years. The collections were used to keep up the well-traveled Buckhannon Pike.
Mr. Mills helped to build the little Ben Cotrill log house which in 1933 stood below the street car lines west of Arbutus Park.

In early years Mr. Mills often hauled fruit for others to the Dester Distillery at Grasselli(now Anmoore). Apple and peach brandy were the main products of this still.

There are many historical facts entwined in the history of the Nutter and Mills families. One of which is that Tony Mills brother James was married to Rachel L. Custer, a cousin of Gen. George A. Custer.

In 1923 the people in the area incorporated the community under the mayor-type government. They chose to honor the family name of Nutter by naming their town Nutter Fort.

Even their first mayor elected, Ralph Richards, brought a touch of history with him, as he was a direct descendant of the Richards that built Richards Fort in West Milford, WV in 1775.

In the past 74 years since its incorporation the town has had well over 15 men hold the title of Mayor and has grown tremendously.
We are proud of Nutter Fort and the

"Progress With a Small Town Atmosphere"

This page will be updated as more information on our towns history is available.

Thanks for understanding and keep checking back for new info.