Thursday, April 20, 1950
A gentleman, a scholar and an outdoor writer, who fills a high advisory position in conservation affairs of the State, appears dead set that the wild boar be introduced into our big woods as a game animal. When he says big woods, he has in mind mainly these parts hereabouts where the rivers head and I am against any more wild hogs in the woods other than the ones which naturally go wild and have to be hunted down as public nuisances – second only to the black bear.
What with all the bears, foxes, coons, wild cats, skunks and other egg sucking varmints, not to mention crows, it is a wonder of the world how come any grouse or quail or turkey nests escape destruction. Now a hog is a hog, and to add such a destructive member to our already overcrowded list of predators just means increasing an already too heavy handicap on our ground-nesting birds.
Back in the 1870s, a notorious big old wild boar ranged the Buckley Mountain. He would sometimes raid the cornfields on Marlin’s Bottom. I have heard tell he would take a nine-rail fence in a flying leap like a deer, when chased out by dogs. He would push down or climb over fence in coming in.
On one such chase through the bottoms, the old boar had made it as far as Stillhouse Run. The late Joshua Kee was at work in his fields there, heard the chase and got ready with a trusty rifle of his own make. The piece hung fire, and the expert marksman scored a miss. The boar headed for the forest, and the man ran in front for to head him back into the open fields. He wanted time to reload his piece for another shot. The boar charged the man, ran between his legs, and tossed him high in the air to land a rod away, all spraddled out. Fortunately, the terrible tusks, capable of severing a man’s leg or disemboweling a horse, missed their mark…
Finally, in a neighborhood hunt, the old Buckley Mountain boar was run down and trimmed. In the fight some dogs were badly slashed. Finally, a pair of bear fighting curs got hold of each ear and held on for dear life. The men roped the boar’s mouth shut, tied his feet and hauled him home in a sled.
The boar was penned in a log barn which stood near where the Marlinton post office is now. The six-inch razor-sharp tusks were sawed off. The broken-hearted beast refused both food and water and died after some weeks’ captivity
The tale, as I heard it as a child, had the fancy sounding ending about the carcass being dragged aside into a convenient fence corner for buzzard bait. However, it was so strong and tough that neither buzzards, bugs nor dogs would feed at it. It just dried up and so remained until weather wore it away…
GOLDEN WEDDING
Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Hill celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary Saturday evening, the 15th of April at their home with a reception given by their five daughters.
Mrs. Hill was dressed in a duplicate of her wedding dress…
Mrs. Clarence Smith received over 100 guests at the door. After greeting Mr. and Mrs. Hill in the living room, the guests were invited by Mrs. W. M. Williams to the dining room, where cake and punch were served…
Mrs. Elmer Brown, the eldest daughter, served the cake and Mrs. Earl Beverage presided at the punch bowl. Mary Jane Brown and Jo Ann Beverage served as aides in the dining room.
Mrs. Walter Joyce greeted the guests in the social room and souvenirs were given by Helen Brown and Nancy Williams.
The five daughters and four granddaughters were dressed in evening dresses of pastel shades and the grandsons wore white and gold suits…
Fifty years ago, the wedding of A. W. Hill and Meta J. Eagle took place at the home of the bride’s parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles Eagle, of Hills Creek near Lobelia…
MAY QUEEN
Mrs. Ramona Sharp Shipley, aged 21 years, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ivan L. Sharp, of Nitro, was elected May Queen of Morris Harvey College. She is the wife of Thomas N. Shipley. She was born at Slaty Fork. Her grandfather is L. D. Sharp…
MARRIED
Lyle McLaughlin and Miss Phyllis Shrader were married at the Presbyterian manse in Marlinton March 25, 1950, by Rev. Roger P. Melton. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Shrader, of Huntersville. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Preston McLaughlin, of Huntersville.
BIRTHS
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Dervie P. Hoover, of Cloverlick, a son, Dewey Thomas.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Devon Johnson, of Marlinton, a daughter, Sharon Louise.
DEATHS
Joseph A. Lancaster, aged 59, of Dunmore. Burial in the family plot in Arbovale cemetery.
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Littleberry N. Coyner, aged 48 years, died at his home at Cloverlick. Burial in the Cloverlick cemetery beside the grave of his wife, Mrs. Jeff Strider Coyner. The service was held from the Episcopal Church. The deceased was a son of the late J. J. and Lon Ligon Coyner… For many years, Mr. Coyner had been in business at Cloverlick as merchant, postmaster, railway and express agent.
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Mrs. Frances Morgan Hollandsworth, aged 43, wife of C. M. Hollandsworth, of Hillsboro died April 12, 1950. The funeral service was conducted from Eman-uel Church on Bruffeys Creek with burial in the church cemetery. The deceased was a daughter of Squire W. C. Morgan, of Lobelia…
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James Waybright, aged 76 years, of Cass, died April 9, 1950. The funeral service was held from the Cass Methodist church. The deceased is survived by his wife, Mrs. Jessie Halterman Waybright and their foster son, Robert Gilbert.
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J. E. Auldridge, aged 84 years, died at his home near Buckeye April 14, 1950. Burial in the Buckley cemetery, with service from the Lower church. The deceased was a son of the late William Auldridge. He married Matilda Moran, who preceded him a few years since. They are survived by seven children, John, Cecil, Harvey, Minnie Potter, Alice Wilfong, Elva Schoolcraft and Pearl Schoolcraft… The deceased was a good father and a friend to all who knew him.
