Thursday, January 25, 1900
The big deed from J. H. Dewing to John G. Luke has been recorded in this county and in Randolph. It conveys about 56,000 acres of land for the consideration of $585,000. There is a clause in the deed providing that the rights of the Cheat Mountain Sportsman Association shall not be interfered with. The most interesting thing about the deed are the revenue stamps on it. The amount is $585 and there is one stamp the size of a dollar stamp which represents $500. It is a red stamp with the picture of Alexander Hamilton in the centre in brown ink. The most material difference is the stamp is that it is numbered like a piece of paper money. The number of this particular stamp is 150.
LOCAL MENTION
J. L. Pitts has about 200 laborers at his two camps above Marlinton, and each day’s work makes a big showing on the grade.
The daily mail system has been established between Edray and Driftwood, leaving Driftwood at 7 each morning, and returning there in the afternoon.
The first flood in nearly a year occurred in this county Saturday. As the waters were rising, a foul smell could be perceived from off the water, showing how badly a freshet was needed.
About 75 hands are at work for A. H. Jacoby & Co. at the tunnel above Marlinton. The work on the tunnel is progressing from both ends and the work keeps up 24 hours a day.
Cogan & Hanckel have finished the abutment on the northern bank of Knapps Creek, and have a derrick planted in the middle of the stream and will put in a cofferdam and construct a pier next.
FISH HATCHERY
A bill has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Elkins appropriating $25,000 for establishing a fish hatchery at some point yet to be determined in West Virginia. Its passage is regarded as certain.
If Pocahontas county does not secure this institution it will be one more case of the miscarriage of governmental affairs which are deplorably frequent.
Within a radius of fifty miles, the Potomac, the James, Greenbrier, Tygarts Valley, Cheat, Gauley, Elk, Williams, Cranberry and Cherry rivers head.
The list is so long we may have omitted a few important water courses. These are the streams to be stocked and nowhere can they be so conveniently reached.
Within a mile of the Greenbrier Railway, on Swago Creek, a spring issues from a cave in sufficient volume to turn a mill. This stream, which is cold, clear and pure, has never been known to freeze. It would make an ideal place for a fish hatchery.
If the commission will only compare the facilities Pocahontas county offers with that of other fields we have no fears of the result.
DUNMORE
And we had a small flood.
George N. Tacy says he tracked a fish down the river which had a track as big around as a haystack.
A tree fell on a slave last week but did not kill him.
Lots of work is being done on the railroad. One blast contained 80 kegs of powder and cost the contractor $750.
The Philippian Island at Major Arbogast’s has been planed up. A 300-foot fill has been put in to protect the road.
Thousands of pounds of feed is being hauled from Huttonsville that ought to have been raised in Pocahontas. This is the year that a large crop of corn, oats and potatoes should be planted.
CLOVER LICK
The Messrs. Coyner have a large store near Clover Lick and are selling a good deal of goods.
The first school ever taught by Misses Bertie McLaughlin and Rish Smith closed on Clover creek this week. Their schools have great satisfaction.
The railroaders started on Elk mountain last Saturday and left 20 kegs of powder. When they returned for it on Monday, they found some kind friend had hid seven kegs in one place and 12 in another and rolled one down the hillside. They succeeded in finding them all after a long search. I guess this thief wanted to build him a railroad of his own.
BIOGRAPHIC NOTES
W. T. Price
JAMES RODGERS, SR.
Among the worthy, industrious persons whose arduous toils and severe pri- vations helped to make our county what it is, deserving of respectful mention, was the late James Rodgers, Sr. He was a native of Madison County, Virginia, born February 13, 1789.
His first marriage was with a Miss Jackson, and the issue of this marriage was seven children…
His second marriage was with Nellie Lewis, of the Little Levels, a granddaughter of Alexander Wooddell. By the second marriage there were six children…
In his time, James Rod-gers had the reputation of being one of the most industrious of working men. He tried to train his sons and daughters to habits of industry and strict economy. Soon as they became old enough for service, they went from home and found ready employment as field hands and housekeepers. This venerable man was a zealous and devoted adherent of the Methodist Protestant church. He was one of the first members in the Buckeye Society and probably one of the first in the county…
The writer cherishes the memory of this old citizen with feelings of much respect as the two often toiled in the meadows and harvest fields side by side in his boyhood. He remembers being often impressed by the pathos and fervency of the old man’s occasional prayers in the morning worship. This was something which was never omitted in the old Marlinton home…