Thursday, September 11, 1924
Today, the voice of the county is friendly and assured. And I know of no county where there is a better blend of ancient wisdom and modern progress.
I was invited to the Kiwanis Club to luncheon and got a good meal in exchange for a very poor speech. Someone told me to ask them the difference between that body and the chamber of commerce. One meets and the other sits is the answer but I could not see any sense in it.
The place that they had the luncheon was called The Spinning Wheel. We spinned yarns and paid one wheel, and did our best to live up to the name. It is a place where they serve good things to eat.
Marlinton has come to the stage where it could well have a Rotary Club and a Kiwanis Club, either one or both. Man is a gregarious animal and these clubs with weekly feasts are bright spots in the lives of the city men.
It seems to me sometimes that I have such good times when I go away from home that it is hard luck to have to pack my grip and sing goodbye, proud world, I’m going home.
As I travel through this mountain country, I find a new kind of lore that I would discourage. And that is for the driver of the bus to say: “There is the place that a car went over and killed two men,” and so forth. These place of ghastly interest are getting too numerous. And as we rolled towards the station discussing these things, the right hand tire blew up with a large report, just as we passed two young ladies walking, who jumped like startled deer. But it was only a matter of minutes until it was fixed, and so home
– – –
Moundsville – Sept. 7 – The murder of three Pocahontas Countians last April 6 will be expiated Friday when Tiny McCoy, 23, of Cass, will die on the gallows at the state penitentiary. McCoy, one of the youngest persons ever to receive the death penalty in West Virginia, is resigned to his fate and told Warden S. P. Smith today that he expected no executive clemency. McCoy has made a full confession of his crimes, the warden said, which involved the fatal shooting of his wife, Hallie, McCoy, his mother-in-law, Mrs. William Totten, and Mrs. Totten’s son, Herbert. He slew the trio because of marital difficulties and then shot himself in the head, but recovered – Charleston Gazette
FAMILY REUNIONS
The family of the late Henry Sharp of Douthards Creek held a reunion at the old Reunion Grounds on Knapps Creek August 28. All nine children were present, and their families made a party of forty. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. J. Albert Sharp, and son, Harry, and grandchildren, William and Frances; Mr. and Mrs. Geo. M. Ervin with their children, Ernestine, Mary Madge and Clifford; Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Overholt; Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Sharp and children, Margaret and Arthur; Mrs. H. M. Warren and daughter; Mrs. J. E. Campbell, of Roanoke, and daughter, Madeline; Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Sheets, and children; Rev. and Mrs. Snapp, of Middlebrook, and three children; Mrs. Bertha Peterson, of Pennsylvania.
A most pleasant day was spent in the open, and a picnic dinner and supper was spread. Announcement was made of the coming marriage of Clifford Ervin and Miss Jennie Wells, of Catskill, New York. Mrs. Campbell gave a talk upon her recent trip to the Holy Land and presented to each of her brothers and sisters mementoes of her trip to Jerusalem in the way of necklaces for the ladies and cufflinks to the gentlemen. Henry Sharp and Caroline Curry were married in 1866. They celebrated their golden wedding some years ago, but both are now dead. They were the parents of 10 children, all of whom are with us except an infant who died during the Civil War. These worthy people spent their entire lives in Pocahontas, and for 35 years lived on Douthards Creek.
– – –
On Sunday, August 17, 1924, Mrs. J. O. Beard, of Arbovale, had a family reunion at her old home place on Top of Alleghany. Six of her children and 27 grandchildren and numerous other near relatives, including her only living brother, P. M.
Yeager, of Bartow, were present.
The home of her birth is a historical place, being one of the battlefields of the Civil War. The old home was used as a hospital, which still stands. Many of the trenches and battlements are still in evidence. She and her brother, P. M. Yeager, watched the battle from a place of safety. During the battle, they saw the flagman fall, which was instantly raised by another. Many points of interest were pointed out which were of special interest to the children.
BIRTHS
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Pat Bennett, at Woodrow, a daughter.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Glen Dilley, at Clawson, a daughter.