Thursday, May 6, 1920
Last Thursday night, the mighty southbound train out of New York thundered through the night, and on board that train was Hon. John T. McGraw, one of the great men of West Virginia, going home. It was his unfailing custom to send a telegram each day to his aged mother that all was well. As he neared Baltimore, his spirit passed, and he died in the harness as every active minded man must desire to die, in the 65th year of his age.
West Virginia was never more profoundly shocked and moved than when the news was flashed over the wires that the great leader was no more. In his long and eventful career his life had touched and affected the lives of all of West Virginia. His activities had been so universal that the history of his life is woven into the warp and the wool of the history of West Virginia for the past forty years…
It was about 1883 that he first brought investors to this county, and in 1890 he became thoroughly identified with Pocahontas County. At the date of his death he was still one of the largest landholders here, though what he still had was a mere bagatelle compared to the number of acres that had passed through his hands. He played the greatest part of any one man in the development of this county, and the county greatly repaid him as a field for investment.
In 1891, Col. McGraw came here during the winter of the deep snow and bought the farms that for the most part made up the historic Marlins Bottom, and laid out the town of Marlinton. The same year the county seat was moved to the town, and the fine town in which we live is one of the monuments to his memory…
And while Col. McGraw experienced many disappointments in his connection with this county, we can safely assert that the county, as a whole, richly repaid his efforts to bring it out of the woods.
If you should ask us what we considered the finest trait of this gifted man, we would name one that only those who came in personal contact with him can appreciate, and that is the urbanity of the man. His superior refinement and courtesy and loving kindness of manner is beyond description, and beyond all praise in a rough world…
He had a name for this great bluegrass section in which we live. He called it Pleasant Valley, and the people of Pleasant Valley wish him well, and are firm in the belief that he has found perfect peace.
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
The town council met in its regular monthly session Monday night, with Mayor Hill, Recorder Rexrode, and councilmen N. R. Price and M. S. Wilson present.
The financial statement for the year 1919 was presented, approved and ordered published. The drains on the town treasury have been extremely heavy in the latter part of the year 1919 due to street and sidewalk construction and the expense of installation of electric power equipment for users of the electric power from the municipal plant. The need of extreme economy in town expenditures during the balance of the year is apparent to everyone.
John Waugh was employed as part time police as approved by the council, and he is charged with the duty particularly to break up speeding within the town limits.
In view of the high cost of coal, labor and all forms of electrical equipment, the council is confronted with the necessity of applying to the Board of Public Works to raise the water and light rate 25 percent. There should be no objection on the part of the citizens of the town, as it is apparent that the plant cannot, in view of present costs, continue to render good service to the town on a rate that has been in effect from a time when all essential supplies were much cheaper than at present. A motion to that effect was proposed and carried without objection.
EDRAY DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL
Winners in Elkins contest
On the morning of April 29th, several of our high school students, accompanied by A. G. Killingsworth, left for Elkins to participate in literary and athletic contests with a number of high schools. Our local high school was conspicuous in that it won more events than any other single school. Out of the four literary events contested, local students won two – Ward McNeill taking first place in the Debate, and Guy Bambrick first place in the Oration.
The Elkins high school took first place in the field and track events, but Marlinton followed with a close second…
DIED
Mrs. Howard Underwood, at her home on Beaver Creek, Wednesday, April 28, 1920. The deceased was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Sharp. Her age was about 35 years. She is survived by her husband and their children.
TRIBUTE OF RESPECT
We are going down the Valley one by one
With our faces toward the setting of the sun
Down the Valley where the mournful cypress grows
And the Stream of Death in silence onward flows.
The above is the beginning of a favorite song so often sung by the following loved one who was recently called away.
Mrs. Hildreth (Beverage) Dever, was born near Monterey, Va. November 24, 1899, and died at her home in Akron, Ohio, February 15, 1920. Her age being 20 years, 2 months and 21 days.
Sad, oh how sad, was the telegram bringing to her fond parents and many loved ones here the unexpected news of her death which was a great shock to all of us. For about two weeks previous to her death she had been confined to her bed with pneumonia following influenza.
Our anxious hopes for her recovery were in vain; for instead of her lively living self returning to us once more as we had expected, the spirit took its flight to the God who gave it, and her lifeless body arrayed in a beautiful casket came back to her home here where funeral services were conducted by her pastor, Rev. J. M. Walker, after which her remains were tenderly laid to rest beneath the sod of the Moore burying ground on Knapps Creek to await the Resurrection morn…
