Thursday, September 8, 1949
LEGAL HOLIDAYS
As this is written on a Friday morning, it is proper to put down that Monday will be Labor Day. An earnest young man was in this office to inquire the meaning of Labor Day. Without going into long, tedious and involved discussion of times when and places where sinful class distinctions prevented recognition of manual labor as honorable and dignified, I could only tell him that beginning away back in 1892 the first Monday was set aside as a day for labor organizations to celebrate. Since that time every State has made the day a legal holiday.
And speaking about holidays, a couple of generations back an American philosopher is known to have remarked that the time was fast approaching when, with the rapid increase in population, it would be necessary for the United States to celebrate two Fourths of July each year. The second glorious Fourth would become necessary to weed out and keep the number of fools in right ratio and proportion to the rest of the population.
According to his figures, one national holiday Fourth had proven its value in keeping in check the weak minded part of our population by supplying a day in which to kill themselves off. However, the country was growing too fast for one Fourth to properly take care of the situation, and there is a distinct need for a second fourth.
LOCAL HISTORY NOTES
A good many weeks ago, a reader came in to inquire what I knew about Hugh McKeever, who had been killed by Indians on Stamping Creek away back about Revolutionary War times. I had to confess total ignorance, but did promise to inquire around to see what basis there was to the rumor of the tragedy.
A clue was the name of a field now owned by Joe Sharp on Blue Lick of Stamping Creek, the “Huey Field.” Yes, it was named for Hugh McKeever, who lived there. He was killed in the field which now bears his name. He was scalped and his body left in a sitting position against a stump.
Another citizen had recollection of having been told by his mother that Hugh McKeever was killed at the big spring just beyond the stockade of Days Fort. The time was the raid in which the Bridger brothers were killed. The fort was at Millpoint, at the site of the present home of J. Lanty McNeel…
There is tradition to the effect that Mrs. Hugh McKeever and a young son made it to the fort, but a daughter in her teens was taken captive when and where her father was killed and scalped.
There is further tradition that this young girl was taken by the Indians to their towns beyond the Ohio; the Pickaway Plains are even named. From there, she escaped and made her way back to the Greenbrier Valley. One day, she appeared at the Warwick Fort at Cloverlick, just about half starved. Her appearance on Clover Creek, instead of Stamping Creek, 25 miles down the Greenbrier, could be accounted for by following the trail up Elk River instead of coming on up the Kanawha to the trail leading up Gauley River.
The McKeever name is still with us in the Greenbrier Valley. I have no way of knowing if some of them are the descendants of Hugh.
WEDDINGS
Earl Skaggs and Miss Mary Ellen Jackson were united in marriage at the Marlinton Methodist Church Friday evening, September 2, 1949. The groom is the son of Rev. and Mrs. R. J. Skaggs and the bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Jackson, of Renick.
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Mr. and Mrs. Everette M. Thompson, of Abingdon, Virginia, and Chattaroy, West Virginia, are announcing the marriage of their daughter, Fay Louise, to Charles E. Moore, son of Mrs. J. Elmer Moore, of Minnehaha Springs, and the late Mr. Moore. The marriage took place Friday, August 19, 1949, in the First Baptist Church of Abingdon.
BIRTHS
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Esco C. Johnson, of Parkersburg, a son, Richard Carl.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Wiseman, of Buckeye, a daughter, Mary Susan.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Sheets, of Greenbank, a daughter, Catherine Fay.
DEATHS
J. Forrest Hill, aged 75 years, of Orlando, Florida; born at Hillsboro, a son of the late R. W. and Sarah M. Hill. Burial in the family plot in a Charleston cemetery.
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James B. Phillips, aged 77 years, of Johnstown, PA. His body was laid in the family plot in Arbovale Cemetery. Born at Green Bank, he was a son of the late Amos and Phoebe Kerr Phillips.
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Aunt Ellen Wilson Foster, aged 81 years, died at her home near Seebert. On Tuesday afternoon, her body was laid to rest in Pleasant Green Cemetery. The deceased was a daughter of the late William Wilson and George Foster.