Thursday, April 24, 1924
Facing something to write about, as usual. Everything is so trivial and not worthwhile. I am still on the road. I’m writing this in a hotel with a Gideon Bible as my sole library. Hotels nowadays have Bibles in guest rooms. They are always to be found on the bureau in front of the looking glass. I went into a hotel the other day and missed the Book, but immediately located it in the top bureau drawer.
Some twenty-odd years ago, two devout drummers met and formed the organization of the Gideons, and it is a most successful organization.
They have placed the Bible in the hotels. And in helping others, they have helped themselves, so that they occupy a proud position in the business world and magnify their calling.
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The business portion of the town of Franklin, Pendleton county, was almost wiped out by fire last Friday. The courthouse, two banks, hotels, stores and the printing office were burned.
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Dennis Dunn and Edgar Smith have found coal of a good burning quality on their place at Watoga.
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The high winds of Tuesday brought down the smoke stacks of the light plant, and the town was out of light and power until new ones could be erected.
CONFEDERATE VETERANS
Confederate soldiers living in Pocahontas county at this date:
Daniel A. Fisher, Hunters-ville; Wallace W. Beard, Hillsboro; John Jackson, Edray; Abram Hayes, Seebert; Isaac B. Smith, Seebert; Mathew John McNeel, Seebert; Noah D. McCoy, Beard; George B. Cochran, Beard; James D. Kerr, Boyer; John E. Gum, Greenbank; Samuel C. Hevener, Hosterman; Frank W. Harper, Hillsboro; Andrew N. Taylor, Cass; William E. Gragg, Hosterman; Claiborne D. Ashford, Greenbank; James C. Wiley, Thornwood; George M. Kee, Marlinton; Reuban E. Overholt, Marlinton; John Trainer, Trainer; Wm. Henry Hull, Marlinton; Peter H. Warwick, Greenbank; James H. Warwick, Greenbank; James M. Spencer, Bartow; John S. Griffin, Boyer; C. Wilson Rider, Frost; Godfrey Geiger, Marlinton; Edwin D. King, Marlinton.
BIRTHS
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Howard, at Sharpless, a son, named Robert Warwick Howard.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Preston Moore, at Onoto, a son.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Loan, of Marlinton, a son.
DIED
John E. Gum, one of the pioneers of Pocahontas, passed away from this earthly life to the great beyond Wednesday, April 16, 1924, at the home of his son-in-law, Oscar L. Orndorff, near Arbovale, at the age of 94 years.
Uncle John, as he was called by his wide circle of friends, will be greatly missed and especially by the younger generation inasmuch as he was familiar with the growth and development of Pocahontas county, being born in the year that the county of Pocahontas was formed and having a wonderful memory, could relate all the important events connected with the development of the county. Funeral service was conducted from the Arbovale Church in the presence of an unusually large congregation… The body was laid to rest in the Arbovale cemetery.