David Henry Cutlip Randolph County Gunsmith

David Henry Cutlip was born July 30, 1847, in present-day Nicholas County, West Virginia.  We find him in the 1850 census at two years of age, living with his father, Washington Cutlip, and his mother, Hannah (Anna).                                                                                                                                                  

                                                        1850 Nicholas County Census

                                                        Click Image for Larger View   

                                                                                     

                                                        1860 Webster County Census

                                                                                    

We did find a David H Cutlip, a Confederate soldier in 1864 enlisted in Co. H of the 19th Virginia Cavalry. Company H mustered out of Gilmer County.   He would have been 17, which is possible, but we need more research to confirm.  If any descendant has more info on this, please contact us.

                                                                                

                                                                                   

                                                           1870 Webster County Census

David was 22 years old in 1870 and is listed as a farmer.  In 1871 David marries Melcina Hamrick. 

1880 Randolph County Census

                                                                                 

                                           David Cutlip Half Stock Percussion Rifle                                                                                                                  Circa 1880

 We find David listed as a farmer & gunsmith in the 1880 census, living in Mingo Flats.  Hopefully, we will learn from whom he learned the trade of gunsmithing.  We know that gunsmith, preacher, and lawyer David H Lilly was in Randolph County in 1860 & 1870.

 

In 1884 David's wife Melcina died.  In 1867 he married Florence Shiflett. 

                                                                                         

                                                                                   

                                                                                   

                                                   1900 Randolph County Census

In the 1900 census, he is listed as a Gun & Silversmith.  His wife Florence and four children are listed. 

                                                                         

David was a faithful member of the LDS Church.  He was an ordained priest as well as an elder.  We are not sure when David and his family moved to Odgen, Utah, but it was soon after the 1900 census.  Was he still practicing the art of gunsmithing in Utah?  David H Cutlip died in 1903 in Utah. 

                                                                               

                                                                           

                                                                                

                                                                 Odgen City Cemetery

                                                                                  

David's widow Florence stayed in Odgen & remained faithful to her religion, as her obituary below attests. 

                                                                                  

We want to Thank James Whisker for using his photo from "Gunsmiths of West Virginia."

Thanks to Krista Al Qirim for the use of her photo of the headstone.  

 If anyone has any additional information on David & his rifles, please contact us; we would love to learn & hear from you.  

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