From the archives of
The Pocahontas Times
General M. J. McNeel was the holder of the lucky number 001718, which drew the Winchester rifle given by C. J. Richardson at his 28th anniversary sale.
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On last Thursday noon, an old woodsman, Scott Myles, was found sick in an abandoned camp stable of the Marlinton Lumber Company on Monday Lick. He was brought to the Pocahontas Memorial hospital and he is now recovering. For a day or two Myles had been at the camp on Improvement Lick. On Wednesday, he left camp to walk to Marlinton. He got sick an sought shelter in an old stable. He could not make a fire, and there was nothing to cover himself with except old harness pads. The night was cold and snowy. About noon the next day, Brooks Bishop came to the camp looking for work, not knowing the camp had been moved. He heard a man cough, but could see no tracks in the snow. He investigated and found Myles down, and not able even to talk. Blankets and food were brought from the camp on Improvement Lick. The superintendent of the company, E. H. Williams, had an engine to go for Myles, and he was brought from Stillwell to the hospital in a wagon. Myles is 74 years of age, a naïve of Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He came to Pocahontas over forty years ago to work in the white pine.
Chain Lightning
For all who have “ribs” who are “pains in the necks,” just add-a-line here to help “razz” the “fair sex:”
“A peach of a maiden
Is Violet Daw
But it jars you to hear her
Say, “I haven’t saw.”
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A perfect daisy
Is Kate and clever,
But ain’t it a crime
When she says, “ I ain’t never.”
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“My “Pain in the Neck,”
Ex-milkmaid, nee Beck,
Opines she’s correct
With her saucy, “By Heck.”
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What would you say
If the minister’s daughter
Brought in one day
The phrase, “Haddent oughter?”
Holiday Weddings
December 26, 1928, Kenny Franklin Burgess, of Woodrow, and Miss Mattie Elizabeth Bobblett, of Hillsboro, were united in marriage at the Methodist Parsonage, by Rev. S. R. Neel, of Marlinton.
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Nelson Paul Scott and Miss Sallie Annie North, both of Hillsboro, were united in marriage at the Methodist Parsonage, December 28, 1928, by Rev. S. R. Neel.
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Lloyd William Scott and Miss Lydia Rose, of near Hillsboro, were married December 28, 1928, by Rev. S. R. Neel.
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On December 24, 1928, Oscar M. Hertig, of Randolph county, and Miss Flossie Helen Hoover were married at the bride’s home by Rev. B. W. Murphy at Stillwell.
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Stanley Nathan Lovelace, of Wayne county, New York, and Miss Madeline Shinaut, of Marlinton, were married January 1, 1929, at the Nazarene Parsonage by Rev. B. W. Murphy.
MRS. MARY McNEEL BEARD
Mrs. Mary McNeel Beard was born October 9, 1831, and died December 27th, 1928, aged 97 years. Thus passed one of the most remarkable women of the two Virginias. It is not too much to say that she was well entitled to the distinction of being the grand old lady of West Virginia.
It was a cynic who said that the whole history of mankind is contained in a few words: “He was born, he suffered, he died.”
But that is not true of this life that we are here reviewing, for I cannot think of her but as the worthy recipient of ninety-seven beautiful years…
Even down to old age in the last year of her life she was clear-eyed, mentally alert, and took a keen and commanding interest in the affairs of the nation, state and county in which she had had so great part.
The prevailing manners of the age depend upon the mental and moral influence of good women, and this is one of the principal things upon which the great machine of human society turns.
Her whole life was passed in one of the favored communities of West Augusta, known far and wide as the Levels of Pocahontas County. Think of the period that was hers. At the date of her birth and for some years after, there were as many as fourteen veterans of the Revolutionary War living in the county. She was twelve years old when Margaret Davis Poage, her neighbor, departed this life at the age of ninety-eight years.
She lived through the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War and the World War, and her interest in the last was as intense and as vital as in any of them…
She was a beautiful, wise, witty and gracious woman. Her people were the pioneers of this great bluegrass valley…
Her husband was the late William T. Beard, the oldest son of Josiah Beard… This marriage was often spoken of as an ideal union. The couple settled on the big bluegrass farm on which was the bold spring of Stamping Creek where in the most pleasant surroundings their married life was spent…
I have known the lady for forty-three years. One winter night I wandered into their home to spend the night as one of the clan, and I was much impressed by the elegance of my surroundings…