Jul 8, 2014 4 min read

GARARDS FORT – Visitors from as far away as Idaho, Utah, North Carolina, Maryland and Ohio, as well as those from West Virginia, Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas, journeyed to the village of Garards Fort June 29 to attend the 83rd annual reunion of the John Corbly Descendants Association.

The meeting held at the historic John Corbly Memorial Baptist Church was preceded by a worship service led by Pastor Gary Whipkey.

President Bill Miller called the meeting to order following the church service.

Attendees were asked to introduce themselves and relate their Corbly lineage and interest in local history. Melody Young from Pocatello, Idaho, received the prize for traveling the farthest, while Mary Lou Everly received one for traveling the shortest distance. Prizes also were awarded to Benjamin Jamison of Jordan, Utah, and Pansy Six of Waynesburg for being the youngest and oldest attendees, respectively.

A presentation by President Miller highlighted the following information.

The Rev. John Corbly, originally from Ireland, was one of the early settlers of Greene County, bringing the Baptist religion to Western Pennsylvania. He is credited with establishing more than 30 churches throughout Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Also, he was one of the early trustees for Washington Academy, now W&J College in Washington.

Corbly’s Revolutionary War service extended beyond participation in the local militia at Garards Fort. At age 45, Corbly enlisted as a private and went on the western military campaign headed by George Rogers Clark. Approximately 150 militia and 80 settlers ventured 600-plus miles down the Ohio River, departing from Fort Redstone (Brownsville) to their destination at the Falls of the Ohio (Louisville, Ky).

In late summer 1778, they built a fort on Corn Island. Corbly served under Cpt. William Harrod and the main task assigned to Corbly was to layout a town on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River. The original map of his survey for Louisville, Ky. still exists.

Miller found that it is housed at the University of Chicago in the Durrett collection. Corbly signed it April 24, 1779 and it was registered in Harrodsburg, Kentucky County, Sept. 8, 1779. The main street was 90 feet wide and side streets 60 feet. At that time all of Kentucky was one county under Virginia. His map, in all probability, is the first time the name of the town Louisville, was used officially. It was named after Louis XVI of France to honor that country’s alliance with the colonies.

Corbly returned to Garards Fort in 1779 and encountered his most traumatic experience in 1782 as his wife and three children were massacred by Indians. Two other daughters also were scalped but survived until adulthood. Despite this tragedy, he continued his Baptist ministry and established churches in the late 1780s throughout Western Pennsylvania. His home churches were the Goshen Baptist Church, now John Corbly Memorial in Garards Fort and the Muddy Creek Baptist in Khedive. Eleven of Corbly’s 17 children are buried with him in the Garards Fort cemetery.

During the business meeting conducted by Marilyn Eichenlaub, the following officers were reappointed for next year. They are Bill Miller, president; Craig Brewer, treasurer; and Kathy Miller, secretary.

Correspondence from several long-standing members who were unable to attend this year’s reunion was read; coffee mugs by New Geneva Pottery, bearing the Corbly crest, were presented as a fundraiser; and members were informed about several books which detail the life and times of Corbly.

The association’s recently developed website, http://johncorblydescendants.org/, was discussed and it covers the accomplishments of Corbly, the descendants organization, Corbly genealogy, local history and future reunions.

Tribute was paid to a number of Corbly descendants who have passed away since last year’s reunion.

Following a luncheon at the church, members were invited to tour the Garards Fort Cemetery where Corbly, two of his wives and several children are buried. Also at this site are two large monuments commemorating the Corbly massacre and highlights of Corbly’s life.

The next Corbly reunion will be held June 28, 2015. The event is open not only to Corbly descendents but also anyone interested in local history.

For more information, contact William Miller at billkathymiller@yahoo.com or 724-627-7129.