Thursday, September 3, 1897
A MAINE farmer grubs stumps by building a fence around them, poking some wheat under them in holes made by a crowbar, and then turning two hungry hogs loose in the enclosure. The hogs root for the wheat and break up the dirt so that the stumps may be dragged out easily.
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SOMEONE visiting the Nashville Centennial, while he saw much to please him, had his pleasure much hindered by the way Southern people treat the letter “r.”
He heard the expression “foah dooahs’ to the right.”
It may be he had never noticed nearer home anything said about “noosepapers,” and “institootions” and “cricks…”
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MR. RALPH DILLEY, in the vicinity of Mt. Zion in the Hills, had a thrilling experience with a pair of immense rattlers a week or so since. About dusk, his dog began to bay something near the porch, and on going out to see what it was, found a large black rattler at bay. He dispatched it and went into the house. It was not long before the dog seemed to be more excited than before and about the same place. He went to see what the trouble was and found that a yellow rattler was at bay. He procured a hayfork and pierced its head, and it was with difficulty he got it killed, it was so large and strong. Pronounced by all who have seen it to have been the largest ever seen in that vicinity.
THE MARLINTON REUNION
THE CONFEDERATE reunion to be held at Marlinton, September 30, will bring more people to this place than ever assembled on one spot in Pocahontas before. Not less than 5,000 people is the most conservative estimate.
Confederate soldiers are coming from Bath, Highland, Greenbrier, Randolph and all the counties near. There will be three brass bands – from Monterey, Warm Springs and Academy. The clans will gather as they did in Scotland to the call of Roderick Dhu, and the evening before the reunion the hospitable people of Pocahontas will entertain a host of visiting friends.
The next day the crowds will converge toward the town of Marlinton and there assemble in procession and march to the assembly ground, where the patriotic utterances of the orators will delight the old and the young, the blue and the gay.
The Pocahontas families will bring hampers filled with good things to eat as only Pocahontas knows how to fill them. And there will be abundance for every visitor of the reunion and every stranger within our gates…
BIOGRAPHIC NOTES
Mr. William Edmiston, in whose memory this biographic paper has been prepared, was one of the early settlers of the lower Levels. He seems to have been born and reared in upper Greenbrier, near Falling Spring, and his ancestry came from Augusta County. He was evidently of English descent; tho his ancestry was from the north of Ireland and called Scotch-Irish and known as such among the Greenbrier pioneers.
His wife was Rebecca Walkup, from the Falling Spring vicinity, where there are families of the name now residing. She was a sister of the late John Walkup, of Falling Spring, a greatly respected citizen and exemplary Christian man. One of her sisters was the wife of Samuel Beard, who was in his day a person greatly esteemed for his elevated manly character.
Samuel Beard was a brother of the late Josiah Beard, and his home was in Renick’s Valley.
Upon his marriage with Rebecca Walkup, Mr. Edmiston settled a few miles south of Hillsboro, on lands now adjoining the farm known as the Pocahontas County Infirmary, which lands are now in the possession of Mr. F. A. Renick and others. Their family consisted of one son, James Edmiston, and four daughters, Rebecca, Jennie, Marie and Margaret…
When far advanced in life, Mr. Edmiston vacated his old pleasant home amid the gently rolling lands, pleasant groves and fruitful orchards for a home on Hill’s Creek, and his last days were spent amid the inviting scenes that surround the place where Daniel Peck now lives…
GREEN BANK
Bass fishing, haymaking and gathering blackberries are now in order.
Jeff Williams has purchased Mrs. Nancy J. Bird’s farm, and has been harvesting there this week.
W. B. King, of Marlinton, who made such a fine showing as a football player and school teacher last winter, will teach for us again at Oak Grove.
Almost the entire population of Green Bank district is on Cheat Mountain gathering blackberries this week, which are very plentiful.
KNAPP’S CREEK
Mr. and Mrs. Lanty Herold made a flying trip to Highland.
John Shrader is driving a new wagon and buggy.
Price Moore is trying to ride his bicycle.
A new school has been started at Driscol.
Threshing has been postponed until winter.
HILLSBORO
Fine weather and good crops, but money is scarce. Prosperity has not struck us yet.
The whistle of the thresher is heard in different directions. The wheat is turning out well.
Mr. Frank Moore threshed 190 bushels of buckwheat.
Maj. J. M. Lee was here drumming for his school last week. He is now in the upper part of the county.
Will Burns is having his house painted which adds much to its appearance.
Died, August 27, an infant child, John Hill.
Capt. W. L. McNeel is lively and cheerful, but cannot walk.
Sidney Payne bought 108 hogs from Henry Clark, which he will fatten for the fall and winter market.
