Thursday, September 11, 1947
While a Republican is not supposed to fish on Sunday, and the rest of us not supposed to catch anything if we do thus go back on our raising, word from a reliable source is that Dick Smith of Edray did break over. Up at the Jim Brider hole, Mr. Smith hooked into one powerful fish. After a big wrestle, in which a valued rod was smashed, the big fish was landed. It was a small mouth, 22 inches long and a little shy of six pounds.
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Still moving around in high cultural circles, I attended the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of Highland County at Monterey last Saturday, August 30, 1947. There was a parade, speaking and pageantry, with the largest crowd yet to foregather in that mountain town.
The orator of the day was United States Senator A. Willis Robertson, of Virginia… The Senator spoke of the early settlers of Highland County – the Scotch Irish from the north of Ireland; the Palatines from the Valley of the Rhine. How they formed a living wall between the Indians of the Western Waters and the settlers east of the Blue Ridge. The proud part her people played in the War of the Revolution, and the hearty support given the Southern Confederacy only after Virginia had declared for the South. He recalled the fact that Highland county had voted strongly for the union, against secession in the State election. Also, that in the Lincoln and Douglas contest for president, Highland had returned a majority vote for Lincoln. Tribute was paid to the soldiers of democracy in the two World Wars.
As a matter of news, let it be put in the record that the rebuilding of the courthouse of Highland County is progressing. It was destroyed by fire last February. The new structure will be bigger and better…
Years ago, Monterey was a far off place from Marlinton. To go to a meeting there, you started early the day before and got back late a day or two after – the better part of a week gone for good.
While my recollection is a bit hazy as to detail of the meeting, the fine ride over and the finer ride home on the back of a good horse was a bright experience, happy to remember though not once recalled in a generation of crowded years.
Our valleys and our mountains were no more attractive then than now; the highways were mere bridle paths compared with present speedways; four miles an hour was a good average speed for a good horse pierted up by heading home, and now the road signs say fifty miles an hour. Yet, a four-day trip then was a happy event, always to be remembered, while now we cover the same ground between lunch and supper, to see all we desire, and forget it in a week.
Fatal Shooting
Nino Jones, aged about 73, years, is dead and Henry Simmons, aged about 60 years, is in jail awaiting investigation of the grand jury at the October Term of the Circuit Court. This is the result of a fatal shooting which took place at the Simmons’ home at the foot of Price Hill near the Red House during a drunken orgy late Thursday afternoon, September 4, 1947.
The charge from the shotgun took effect in his leg, causing death by loss of blood and shock.
Jones was a native of New York State, around Buffalo. He followed the woods, and he has been in this part of West Virginia for forty or more years.
On Saturday afternoon his body was laid in Mountain View Cemetery.
Simmons has long been a resident of Marlinton. His occupation was draying.
BIRTHS
Born to Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Welder, of Marlinton, a daughter, named Sue Ellen.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Guy VanReenan, a daughter, named Cheryl Faye.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Callison, of Hillsboro, a daughter.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Payne, of Covington, Virginia, a daughter, named Peggy June.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Sexton, a daughter, named Brenda Jean.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. William Thomas Brooks, of Huntington, a daughter.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Barkley, of Cass, a son.
DEATH
Mrs. Amanda Estaline Dilley Sharp, aged 97 years, widow of the late Harmon B. Sharp, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Delana Leighty, Saturday afternoon, September 6, 1947. Other surviving children are Mrs. Glenette Dilley, Cora Sharp, Mrs. Mary E. Robrbaugh and Mrs. Virgie Doyle. The deceased was a daughter of the late Ralph and Mary Jane Moore Dilley, of near Frost.