Thursday, May 9, 1946
Golden Horseshoe Winners
Winners of the Golden Horseshoe test from Pocahontas County, May 3, 1946: Harper Thomas Callison, Eddie Lightner and Dale Curry, all of Marlinton Elementary School, and Lock Boggs, of the Brownsburg School.
OIL MEN MEET
Charleston – The Pocahontas County Division of the West Virginia Petroleum Association met at the New Alpine Hotel in Marlinton on Thursday, May 2, 1946, and elected Carl L. Sheets, American Oil Co., Marlinton, president; W. C. Lindsey, American Oil Co., Durbin, vice-president; and E. H. Williams, Marlinton, secretary.
At the request of Governor Clarence Meadows, the county oil association went on record to sponsor a drive on highway safety. In order to prevent motor vehicle traffic accidents, the oil men are carrying on a “check and tell” campaign by which they check the brakes, tires, lights and steering gear of all cars stopping at their stations and then inform customers of any defects in their equipment…
FIELD NOTES
Sheriff Will Ruckman brought in a snake for identification. It was a blowing viper. The only trouble was, the snake was too cold from the flying snow, it could not blow. The snake was lively enough, however, to open its mouth and throw itself to strike. Then it would fall over on its back with its mouth still open, playing possum.
You know the tradition of the old people about the blowing viper – the snake which opens its mouth to strike and then cannot close it again. The background of the tradition is when good Apostle Paul was shipwrecked on the Island of Melita, he had gathered bundles of sticks, laid them on the fire, and there came a viper out of the heat and fastened on his hand. He shook the beast into the fire and felt no harm, though the barbarians looked for him to swell up or fall down dead suddenly. Ever since then, according to the old people, the spell is still on vipers, locking their jaws when they open their mouths to strike.
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Some weeks ago, I put a little piece in the paper about J. O. Kellison, of Boggs Run, finding the nest of a pair of ravens. The nest was located on a cliff not far from the coal bank on Briery Knob, convenient to be photographed. In some way, the item came under the notice of Sam Dickie, of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. He is a naturalist, and the chance for such a rare picture was too good for him to let go by. So he drove the couple hundred miles or more to find the place by the help of Mr. Kellison, to take the picture of the nest and the half-grown ravens.
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I hear tell a big lone beaver has taken up his home in a bank beside the Greenbrier River just above the mouth of Monday Lick, two miles below Marlinton railway station. One day some weeks since, the section crew held up work for a little while, waiting for a train to come and pass. When all was quiet, the men saw the big beaver come out of the water, climb up on a sunny bank, and give himself a thorough currying, from head to tail. He washed his face like a cat, and then added the finishing touches in the way of drying it by reaching out and getting a bunch of dry grass to use as a towel.
DEATHS
DR. J. W. PRICE
Dr. James Ward Price, aged 77 years, died early Tuesday morning, May 7, 1945. He had been in failing health for several months.
On Thursday afternoon the funeral will be held from the Marlinton Presbyterian Church at 2 o’clock by his pastor, Rev. J. C. Wool, D. D. Interment was in the family plot at Mountain View Cemetery with Masonic Honors, beside the grave of his father…
The deceased was a son of the late Rev. Wm. T. and Anna Randolph Price. He was born in Monterey, Virginia, November 21, 1868. He married Miss Lura M. Sharp, of Edray. She preceded her husband nearly twenty years ago. They are survived by their son, W. L. Price, and their daughter, Julia Randolph Price. His sisters are Dr. Susan A. Price and Mrs. Anna V. Hunter; his brothers are Dr. Norman R. and Calvin W. Price. Another brother, Andrew, preceded him sixteen years ago.
Thus is noted the passing of one of our most useful citizens, literally worn away in the service of others…
MOODY KINCAID
Charles Moody Kincaid, aged 62 years, Clerk of the County Court of Pocahontas County, died unexpectedly of a heart attack Tuesday, April 20, 1946. The day before he had been about his duties as usual.
On Friday afternoon the funeral service was held from the Marlinton Methodist church by his pastor, Rev. Harvey Porter, assisted by Rev. Fred Oxendale and Rev. J. C. Wool, D. D. The pall bearers were Richard F. Currence, J. E. Hamrick, Grady Moore, B. B. Beard, Fred W. Ruckman and Z. S. Smith, Jr. Honorary pall bearers were members of the Men’s Bible Class of the Methodist Church. Interment was in the family plot in Mountain View Cemetery.
Mr. Kincaid is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mary Yeager Kincaid, and their two daughters, Kathryn Jane and Betty Lee…
Of Mr. Kincaid, his pastor spoke thus: “He was a member of fraternal and civic organizations, but the one organization which came first in his life was his church, the Methodist, which he had joined when a boy. He held official positions as a member of the Board of Stewards and chairman of the music committee. He was faithful in all his relations; in the church, in community life, in public office. In the home, he was a faithful and loyal husband, a devoted and good father. Truly a kind and helpful friend of all. His life has been lived and well lived. He was loved and respected by all who knew him.
“His going was a shock to us all. He will be greatly missed in the community, in business and public circles, in his church and in his home. His place will be forever vacant, but in the hearts of all who knew him best, his spirit will ever be present.”
