Thursday, December 6, 1923
COL. BAXTER’S BOOKS
In the early years of the 18th century, Colonel John Baxter represented the south eastern section of what is now West Virginia in the Virginian legislature. He resided in the Little Levels district of Pocahontas county, and he owned practically the entire county. In fact, he owned so much land that he went land poor – he was not able to pay the taxes – and he traveled for many years.
Today, the direct descendants of Colonel John Baxter are living on the lands he once owned, almost 150 years ago. The descendants own property principally in Edray district of Pocahontas – a county in which there is probably more bluegrass than in the entire state of Kentucky.
Colonel Baxter was a fiery character but he was a lover of literature. He had a large library and during the prime of his life he made every effort to secure all the literary classics of the day. His library was large and he took great pride in his collection of books. Living as he did in the wilderness of an unknown section of the country, where the cry of the “painter” mingled with the call of the nightbirds, he spent hours over his books, studying histories, fiction and law books.
Editor, Pocahontas Times;
We have entirely too many officials telling people what they must do and what they can’t do; spying into homes, private accounts, methods of life – laying down the law as to what they eat, drink, wear, buy or spend, where they shall go and when. All the family diseases are recounted, the visiting nurse is told where we sleep and why married or single.
Your bank account is shown up, your debts, the number of days your child has attended school. You must explain why you can’t give more to the Armenian relief, starving India, missionaries to the heathen, Red Cross, Y. W. C. A. and bazaars to make the blind see in darkest Africa. You are exploited, restrained, assessed and reassessed, bonded, District bonded, and State bonded, directed, advised, prohibited, admonished, threatened, examined, criticized, preyed upon (and prayed low), until you are ready to crawl into a cave and write on the outside – mentally, morally, physically and financially embarrassed. M.H.M.
LARGE ACREAGE
When in Pocahontas county this fall, I was the guest of Sherman Gibson, a hustling farmer who knows how he got every dollar he has made. He owns 750 acres of land, many of which are level… He is beginning to breed Angus cattle. His home is equipped with an electric lighting system and running water. He keeps about 90 cattle and 175 sheep. His son, Richard, seems to be as much interested in the farm and livestock as the father. The two make a splendid team on the farm and in business – W. D. Zinn, National Stockman and Farmer
WEATHER
S. L. Brown makes the following report on the November weather: hottest, 58 degrees on the 14th and 15th; coldest, 12 degrees on the 10th and 20th; mean temperature for the month, 36 degrees. Total rainfall, 4.01 inches…
BIRTHS
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Dumire, near Edray, a son.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Beverage, of Onoto, a son.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Kee, a daughter.
DIED
Mrs. Lillie B. Lockridge died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. W. Milligan, on Camden Avenue, Tuesday morning, December 4, 1923. Her age was 88 years.
Funeral service will be held from the home Thursday morning at 10 o’clock… Burial at the Lockridge family graveyard on Knapps Creek.
Thus is chronicled the passing of a gentlewoman who through a long life exerted a wonderful influence for all things good, and the circle is ever widening…
In 1856, she became the wife of Colonel James T. Lockridge, of Pocahontas County. His heart safely trusted in her and she did him good all the days of his life. His death occurred in 1886…