Sistersville was settled in 1802 by Charles Wells, who built his cabin on what is now the golf course. Wells had 22 children; a tenant named Scott has 22; Gordori, a neighbor, had 28; in 1811 the Navigator solemnly commented: "The banks of the Ohio seem peculiarly grateful to the propagation of the human species." Wells named his 20th offspring Twenty and his 21st Plenty. Evidently despairing of the efficacy of symbolical names, he named the 22nd Betsey. Known as Wells Landing for a number of years and then for a short time as Ziggleton, the settlement was incorporated in 1839 as Sistersville, in honor of Well's 18th and 19th children, Sarah and Delilah, upon whose property the town was platted. Wells Street perpetuates the name of this prolific family; Chelsea Street was once known as Brown Betty Street for their favorite mare.

Source: Federal Writers' Project - 1941, Transcribed by C. Anthony

SISTERSVILLE, a thriving post-village of Tyler county, Virginia [now West Virginia] is pleasantly situated on the Ohio river, about 35 miles below Wheeling and 9 miles W. from Middlebourn, the county seat. It has a good landing for steamboats, and it is the terminus of several turnpike-roads extending toward the interior. These advantages, together with the navigation of the Ohio, render this a place of active trade which is rapidly increasing. Coal and iron ore are found in the vicinity. Population in 1853, 1,000.

Source: Statistical Gazeteer of the State of Virginia, 1854, Edited by Richard Edwards -  Transcribed by C. Anthony

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