Thursday, February 4, 1926
Sometime in the 1850s, a teacher appeared in the upper part of the county and taught at Samuel Gibson’s near Frost. He was excentric in dress and yet had the manners of a refined and cultured person. He wore a long black gown similar to what is worn by a Roman Catholic priest that, in course of time, became a solid fabric of stitches by repeated darning that he did himself. The robe or gown may have been used for 15 or 20 years. One Saturday morning, while in a state of apple juice exhilaration, he was discovered on the mountainside opposite Andrew Herold’s residence, sportively imitating the movements of a bear. Mr. Herold hastily took down his rifle, charged for bear, and prepared for the chase, but before all was quite ready, the teacher ceased his bruin-line pranks, came down to the road and walked off in a leisurely mood toward Moses Moore’s and thus spoiled the anticipated sport.
In the meantime, Mr. Herold was horrified at the thought of having come so near shooting a human being. A few moments more he would have been near enough to fire on the supposed bear at close range.
SHOOTING AT DURBIN
Mrs. Young, proprietress of the Riverside hotel at Durbin, shot and instantly killed Chas. E. Morrey Tuesday while he was eating dinner at her hotel. Full particulars next week.
MERRICK ALDERMAN SHOT
Merrick Alderman was shot up by Fielding Combs at the Alderman home on High Top in Allegheny Mountain Tuesday afternoon.
Mr. Alderman came to town Tuesday afternoon to have his wounds dressed. He has about a dozen number four shot in his left breast; several in his shoulder, one in his throat and one in his lip…
Merrick and Henry Alderman were cutting wood when they saw Combs approaching. He had a repeating shotgun and he looked mad. The Aldermans spoke, and Combs replied by putting his gun under a coat that hung on the fence and threw the garment to the ground. The men asked what he meant, Combs replied that “It means so damn much that I will kill you both.”
Combs then leveled his gun at Merrick and fired two or three times as Alderman turned away. He then took a couple of shots at Henry but missed him.
Combs then held the men up with his gun and proceeded to give them a calling down. He warned them not to get their guns as he had a man stationed on the mountain with a rifle, who would surely shoot them if they attempted to follow him.
Alderman came to town as soon as he could and reported the matter to the officers. Sheriff Barlow organized a posse and went after Combs. No word has been received from the officers as this paper is printed.
Some years ago, Alderman was a state witness in a moonshine case in which Combs was implicated and Combs has not liked him since. An officer had warned him that Combs might shoot him.
Merrick Alderman is 28 years old and unmarried.
Combs lives over the Virginia line. He is about 60 years old and has a family of 23 children.
DIED
Mrs. Rebecca Collins Hannah, wife of Ira Hannah, died at her home on Bucks Run Tuesday January 26, 1926, aged 36 years. She is survived by her husband and their eight children, one of whom is a newborn babe. On Thursday, she was laid to rest in the Buckley graveyard, the services being conducted by Rev. H. H. Orr. Mrs. Hannah was the daughter of Samuel Collins, of Richwood. She was a good woman, performing well her part as wife and mother.
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Mrs. Nannie Crouch Beard, a daughter of Jacob and Rachel McNeel Crouch, a descendant of John McNeel, an early settler of the Little Levels. She was married to Moffett Beard. To this union were born nine children, three daughters and six sons, and these, with the exception of three sons – Lee, who died in infancy, Harry accidently drowned, and Jacob, of Typhoid fever – were with her in the last days…
In 1889, upon the death of her husband, she was left with a large family; most of them young, to rear – a task that would have appalled many of stouter frame. However, her faith and courage did not waver, and she took up the burden with an energy and efficiency that won the admiration of all who knew her difficulties…
