USA > West Virginia > Encyclopedia of contemporary biography of West Virginia. Including reference articles on the industrial resources of the state, etc., etc. > Part 49
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Last year (1892) there were but three States producing more coal than West Virginia, and but one producing more coke. She had 6,000 coke ovens in blast, turning out 1, 314, 449 tons. In view of these facts it is probably safe to predict that the time is not distant when West Virginia will lead all the other States in the production of both coal and coke.
A recent work on the Coals and Cokes of West Virginia, by W. S. Edwards, gives fuller and more detailed information on the subject than can be found elsewhere.
Iron.
At present, West Virginia is only potentially an iron State; no iron is made here now, but conditions are ripening for the change. We have the ores, the coals and the limestones in abundance, of superior qualities, and in convenient proximity to each other; and, as in- dustries always adapt themselves, sooner or later, to the most favorable conditions, it is probably safe to say that both the Virginias, on both sides of the Alleghanies, which divide them, and in which the new material abounds, must soon become one of the great iron-pro- ducing regions of the country, if not, indeed, the most productive.
Hon. Homer A. Holt, Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, and Hon. Adam C. Snyder, ex-Judge of the same court, have recently published a pamphlet on iron, richly illustrated, and replete with interesting and valuable information.
From this paper I cull a few striking facts and statistics:
In 1870, the consumption of iron by the inhabitants of the world did not amount to one pound per capita. In 1890, it was in excess of 35 pounds per capita, the consumption in the United States being 300 pounds (larger than any other country); Great Britain, 250
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pounds; France, Germany and Belgium, 175 pounds each; Sweden, 100 pounds, and all the rest, say, 12 pounds per capita.
In 1856, the world's production of iron was 6, 600,000 gross tons; in 1890, it was 26, 500, 000 gross tons.
These gentlemen argue that if this rapid rate of increase is maintained-and they believe it will be greatly exceeded-the production for the year 1900 will be in excess of 50, 000, 000 tons.
Mr. Atkinson, the eminent statistician, asks: "What will be the product of the United States in 1900, if the world demands forty to fifty million tons of iron? Where will it come from? Who will supply it?" And then asks the further pertinent question: "Can the iron- producing countries combined readily meet the prospective increase of demand?"
In 1856, the product of the United States was 883, 137 net tons; in 1890, it was 10, 309, 028 net tons. As the annual product of Great Britain is declining, and all the other European countries are only just holding their own, it is fair to assume that the enormous increased demand must, in future, be supplied by the United States.
From the foregoing facts, and in view of the great extent and value of the iron ores shown by Messrs. Holt and Snyder to exist in the Virginias along the Appalachian range, especially in the Potts Creek region, it seems much more than probable that this is des- tined, at no distant day, to become one of the most largely developed and productive iron districts of the world.
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Ex-Governor Fleming, who devoted much time and study to the natural resources of the State, in writing about iron in the Manufacturers' Record, says: "Carbonates, more or less oxidized by exposure, extend across the entire State, from Preston County to the Big Sandy River. They are found in many forms and of varying thickness, from 6 inches to 6 feet, and yielding 30 to 40 per cent of iron of high grade, especially when made with charcoal or high- grade coke. These carbonates, particularly the limestone ones, can be mixed to great advan- tage with the oxides. It is well known among iron men that in the Elk Valley, almost through- out its whole course, carbonates are found in workable beds of high quality, including some valuable beds of black-band ore.
"In considering the oxides, however, we come to what may be properly styled the iron region of West Virginia.
" Beginning at Harper's Ferry, and running with the Virginia line to Tazewell, through the West Virginia counties of Jefferson, Berkeley, Morgan, Hampshire, Hardy, Grant, Pen- dleton, Pocahontas, Greenbrier, Monroe and Mercer, we find the true Eastern oxides-red and brown hematite ores in large and persistent veins or beds, and inclining at a good angle for mining. Through Hampshire, Hardy and Pendleton, both kinds are abundant-the red ore of more than ordinary quality and quantity. This is identical with the great ore bed of the Red Mountain district of Birmingham, Alabama. In Pocahontas and Greenbrier Counties is the Beaver Lick Mountain, forty miles long. This mountain has, throughout its length, fine veins of red fossil and red shale, and, intermittingly, pipe ore. These are the red ores of East Tennessee. It is also claimed that the brown hematite is found in thick beds in this mountain.
"Of the extraordinary value of this ore field there is now most conclusive evidence, and it is likely, at no distant day, to be penetrated by both the Camden and Davis systems, bringing the New River coking coal-only twenty miles away-into the region where these ores will be most keenly sought after. The lower Helderburg limestone, so much used as a flux, is found in this mountain everywhere.
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"The brown hematite ore extends through Monroe County; this ore is well adapted to the basic process, with the magnesian limestone right at hand. Two tons of this ore will make a ton of iron in every-day furnace work, year in and year out. As to quantity, I have it from those who have been on the ground that it lies in continuous beds, and outcrops from 20 to 25 feet thick. In East River Mountain thick beds of this brown ore are found."
Clearly the conditions and opportunities are most favorable, and but await capital and enterprise to develop this great, important and prosperous industry in our State.
Timber.
In the quantity, quality, variety and value of its timber, West Virginia stands easily first among the States.
Major Jed Hotchkiss, late editor of The Virginias, and one of the best-informed men in the country, writes: "Fully three-fourths of its 24, 645 square miles of area are still covered by virgin forests." Ex-Governor Fleming says: "Of the 16,640,000 acres in the State, probably 8, 000, 000 are still in the original forest." Ex-Governor Wilson says: "I have the statistics to prove that West Virginia has more of a surplus of hard woods than any other ten States in the Union."
Mr. Summers, in his World's Fair book, says: "A thorough examination of the forests will show that nearly or quite one-half of the State is still uncleared."
These corroborative estimates from gentlemen so well informed on the subject may be accepted as approximately correct as to the area of our forests, while the quantity of timber per acre is clearly shown by the following tables, reported by Major Hotchkiss from actual count and measurement.
In the valley of the Twelve Pole, in Wayne and Logan Counties, the merchantable tim- ber on an area of 12, 262 acres-nearly 20 square miles-was counted and measured with the following result:
Hardwoods.
No. of Trees.
Softwoods.
Trees.
White Oaks
24, 760
Tulip Poplars.
12,450
Chestnut Oaks
38,844
Pines
3,472
Black Oaks
8,525
Lindens.
2,325
Red Oaks
943
Cucumbers
240
Hickories
21,298
Buckeyes
28
Chestnuts
7,68 1
Locusts
1,996
White Maples.
1,583
Sugar Maples
450
Birches
1,344
Gums
1,044
Black Walnuts.
393
Sycamores
I3
108,878
Ashes
27I
Hemlocks
903
19, 689
No. of
This summary shows that the area contained 108, 878 hardwood and 19,689 softwood trees; total, 128,567 timber trees. The average number of these timber trees to the acre was ten and a fraction. The trees measured were 18 inches diameter at 4 feet from the base, except locusts, hickories, and walnuts, which were measured from 10 inches diameter np. Another test was made by counting and measuring in like manner the timber trees on 1, 000 acres about the head of Cherry River, in Greenbrier County, resulting as follows:
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APPENDIX.
No. of
Hardwoods.
Trees.
Softwoods.
Trees.
White Oaks
132
Tulip Poplars.
529
Chestnut Oaks
I59
White Lindens.
1,014
Red Oaks.
889
Yellow Lindens.
937
Hickories.
86
Ashes
576
Chestnuts
1,513
Hemlocks
2,302
White Maples.
3,258
Yew Pines.
34
Sugar Maples.
7,291
Locusts.
4
Beeches
1,965
Birches
1,120
Gums.
104
Cherries
349
White Walnut
I
16,87I
On this 1, 000 acres were 16,871 hardwood trees and 5, 393 softwoods; total, 22,264, the average number per acre being a little over 22.
These trees, like the others, were measured from 18 inches diameter up, except hickories and locusts. This 1,000-acre tract has an altitude of 2,500 to 3,000 feet. The 12, 263-acre tract above mentioned, has an altitude of 650 to 1, 000 feet.
To show the size of some of the trees that grow in West Virginia, Mr. Summers, in his book, reports a poplar recently milled at Camden-on-Gauley, the yield of which was 24, 724 feet board measure. Scribner's Magazine contains the following reference to the timber of West Virginia:
"Though West Virginia has a smaller area than any of the timber States, it has probably a larger amount of standing timber than any other State in the Union. Fully two-thirds of its surface is covered with an original growth of oak, ash, maple, chestnut, pine and black walnut, denser and finer than any other timber east of the Rocky Mountains. It is esti- mated that there are in the State 10, 000,000 acres of this timber, standing 8, 000 feet upon an acre-say 80,000, 000, 000 feet-enough to keep every sawmill in Michigan busy for eighty years, if they were to cut an amount yearly equal to the whole annual production now of that great lumber State. With Maine and Michigan now more than half denuded of their timber, it will not be long before this great forest wealth will be brought into the market; and then this virgin State will no longer 'sit solitary in the wilderness,' but be made merry with the music of the axe-music set to the chorus of 'Yankee Doodle.'"
West Virginia lies within the temperate belt, from 37 to 41 degrees North latitude. Her altitude is from 272 feet at Harper's Ferry and 500 feet at Kenova to about 5,000 feet on the backbone of the Alleghanies, giving a climatic range of about 4,700 feet, or the equivalent of about 16 degrees of latitude; consequently the State has extensive areas of adaptability for every kind of forest growth that is found within the limits of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.
The following, from a speech of Hon. S. B. Elkins in Chicago, well expresses the im- portance and value of our little Mountain State:
"It is the general belief that West Virginia is a small State. Compared with some of the large States she is; compared with some of the smaller, she is not. She is more than twice the size of Maryland; two and one-half times the size of Massachusetts, that has two million population ; and larger than Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island combined, The Kingdom of Belgium and the Netherlands have, together, a population of
4
5,393
No. of
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APPENDIX.
more than 10,000,000. The area of West Virginia is greater than the area of both combined. Her natural resources are, in proportion, greater than her size, and she can support a popu- lation equal to that of Belgium and Holland."
PIONEER HISTORY OF CHARLESTON. BY DR. J. P. HALE.
As the age of a town or city advances, more and more interest is usually felt in hunting up the " beginnings of things," and the early history of its settlement and growth. To meet this want I have gathered together many facts and incidents of the early settlement of Charleston and its subsequent growth; not very important singly, perhaps, but, in the ag- gregate, probably worth recording and preserving.
According to the best authenticated tradition, the first white persons ever on the site where Charleston now stands were Mrs. Mary Ingles and Mrs. Bettie Draper, who were prisoners among the Indians.
In July, 1755, the Shawnees made a raid on the border settlements of Virginia, and, hav- ing captured and destroyed the Ingles-Draper settlement, at Draper's Meadows on Upper New River, now in Montgomery County, Va., and murdered most of the settlers, took these women prisoners to their homes on the Scioto.
In 1764, Matthew Arbuckle, an enterprising frontiersman of the Greenbrier settlement, passed down this valley to the mouth of the Kanawha River, and returned. He was proba- bly the first white man ever on the site of Charleston.
On the 14th of October, 1768, Mr. Stewart, British Superintendent of Indian Affairs, concluded a treaty with the Cherokees, at a place called "Hard Labor," in South Carolina, in which it was agreed: "That the southwest boundary of Virginia should be a line extend- ing from the point where the northern line of North Carolina intersects the Cherokee hunt- ing-grounds, about thirty-six miles east of Long Island, in the Holston River; and thence, extending in a direct course north by east to Chiswell's Mines, on the east bank of the Kana- wha River; and thence down that stream to its junction with the Ohio River."
In 1771, the renowned pioneer, Simon Kenton, with two companions, Yeager and Strader, came down the Ohio River and up the Kanawha, over the site of Charleston, and made an encampment at the mouth of Two-Mile Creek of Elk River, where they hunted and trapped till the Spring of 1773, when they were attacked by Indians. Strader was killed, and Ken- ton and Yeager both wounded, but succeeded in making their way to a French trading-post at the mouth of the Kanawha River, where they were taken care of.
In 1773, Colonel Thomas Bullitt, for his military services in the Braddock and other wars of the Northwest, came to this valley to locate lands, and "took up" the tract lying in the junction angle of the Kanawha and Elk Rivers, where Charleston now stands.
In 1774, General Andrew Lewis, with his army, passed over the future site of Charles- ton on his way to the battle of Point Pleasant.
In 1787, Judge Cuthbert Bullitt, who had acquired this land from his brother, Colonel Thomas Bullitt, sold it to George Clendenen, and on the Ist of May (May Day) a little band of colonists, consisting of George Clendenen, his brothers William, Robert and Alex- ander, their father, Charles Clendenen, Josiah Harrison, Francis Watkins, Shaderick Har- riman, Charles McClung, John Edwards, Lewis Tackett, and perhaps a few others, felled the first trees, and commenced to build the first house erected on the bottom where Charles- ton now stands. This was a hewed log house of two stories and four rooms, covered with
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APPENDIX.
rived clapboards. It stood at the northeast corner of (now) Kanawha and Brooks streets. This was the mansion of George Clendenen, the leader of the colony, and founder of the settlement which has become the city of Charleston.
Just in front of this house, and where Kanawha street now is, an upright picket fort was built. Both the house (which was bullet-proof) and this picket fort were used for the protection and safety of the colonists until the end of the Indian troubles.
Following the erection of the Clendenen house, six others were at once built to accom- modate the other members of the colony, and were located as follows: One at the northeast corner of Kanawha and Truslow streets; one at the northeast corner of Kanawha and Court streets; one at the northwest corner of Kanawha and Alderson streets; one at the northeast corner of Kanawha and Summers streets; one at the northwest corner of Kanawha and Cap- itol streets; and one at the northeast corner of Kanawha and Hale streets.
During the year 1788, George Clendenen had forty acres laid off as a town site, divided into forty lots of one acre each, and extending from Elk River up to (now) Capitol street. The survey was made by Mr. Alexander Welch, surveyor of the county (it was then Green- brier County). There were two streets laid off parallel to the river, and called Front and Main, now Kanawha and Virginia. The right-angled streets were numbered, not named.
For several years the town had no distinctive name. It was called indiscriminately "Clendenen's Settlement" or "The-town-at-the-mouth-of-the-Elk."
In 1789, Kanawha County was organized and comprised about 10,000 square miles of territory, and this settlement, with its seven log houses and about thirty inhabitants, was made the capital and seat of government of this vast territory.
The Clendenen mansion was used for a fort and for his family residence; also for the entertainment of travellers, for a Court-House, Clerk's Office, and voting precinct.
The year that Kanawha County was established (1789) was an eventful one. In this year the first United States Congress met, the United States Constitution became operative, and George Washington took his seat as first President of the Republic.
At the first election held here, this was the only voting precinct in the county; the polls were kept open three days, and the total number of votes cast was thirteen.
The county being entitled to two members of the Legislature, George Clendenen, the founder of the town, and Andrew Donnally, Sr., the hero of Donnally's Fort, were elected by overwhelming (?) majorities. At the following election, in 1791, George Clendenen and Daniel Boone, the great pioneer and hunter, were elected.
There being no railroads, stage coaches or other vehicular modes of travel in those days, Boone footed it all the way to Richmond, the seat of the State Government, with his rifle on his shoulder and his butcher-knife in his belt; but the uncomfortable restrictions of city life, and the uncongenial occupation of law-making, soon disgusted him and he returned as he went.
The first jail erected here was a log cabin on the river bank, near the Clendenen resi- dence.
The first Court-House and Clerk's Office erected were in 1796, on the present Court- House lot; it was a one-story log house, 40x30 feet. This lot was acquired from George Alderson for about $100, in settlement of an unpaid balance due the county by said Alder- son. This building gave place, in 1817, to the brick Court-House recently torn down, and where an elegant stone Court-House building is now being erected.
In 1817, a small stone County Clerk's Office was erected on the site of the present Hotel Ruffner.
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APPENDIX.
In front of the Court-House lot there was a public market-house, which continued until about 1845.
In the early history of the settlement money currency was very scarce, and tobacco be- came a legal tender; property was bought and sold for tobacco; taxes were paid in tobacco; the court gave judgments for debts payable in tobacco; and tobacco was a general medium of exchange for commodities.
To guard and conserve the morals of the community, the court fined persons for swear- ing on the streets, and fined sportsmen for "going a-hunting on Sunday."
In 1794, December 19, the Legislature of Virginia "enacted that forty acres of land, the property of George Clendenen, at the mouth of the Elk River, in the County of Kenhawa, as the same are already laid off into lots and streets, shall be established as a town, by the name of Charlestown; and Reuben Slaughter, Andrew Donnally, Sr., Leonard Morris, George Alderson, Abraham Baker, John Young and William Morris, gentlemen, are appointed trustees."
The town was named Charlestown after Charles Clendenen, father of George, the founder; and Kanawha County when formed was called and spelled " Kenhawa." It is a curious fact that the spelling of Kenhawa and Charlestown, as originally named, should, without legis- lative action or municipal or other public authority, become gradually changed and finally crystallized into the present spelling and pronunciation of Kanawha and Charleston.
At the first Court for Kanawha County, held at the Clendenen fort, October 6, 1789, the following "Gentlemen Justices" were severally sworn and qualified as members of the Court: Thomas Lewis, Robert Clendenen, Francis Watkins, Charles McClung, Benjamin Strother, William Clendenen, David Robinson, George Alderson, Leonard Morris and James Van- bibber.
Thomas Lewis was commissioned as Sheriff, and appointed John Lewis his deputy; William H. Cavendish was appointed Clerk and Francis Watkins his deputy; Reuben Slaughter, County Surveyor; David Robinson and John Vanbibber were appointed Com- missioners of the Revenue, and William Drowdy and William Boggs, Coroners.
In the military organization of this county, George Clendenen was County Lieutenant; Thomas Lewis, Colonel ; Daniel Boone, Lieutenant-Colonel ; William Clendenen, Major; Leon- ard Cooper and John Morris, Captains; James Vanbibber and John Young, Lieutenants; and William Owens and Alexander Clendenen, Ensigns.
The first post-office established here was called Kanawha Court-House, and was located at the corner of Kanawha and Hale streets. It was opened on the Ist of April, 1801, Ed- ward Graham, Postmaster. The only mail for ten years or more was a fortnightly horse- back mail from the East, via Lewisburg.
Excepting a little corn cracker, established by the Ruffners at the mouth of Campbell's Creek in 1803, the first grist mill of the neighborhood was erected by Thomas Alsbury, at the Falls of Coal River, using water power, and to this the citizens of Charleston sent their grists of corn and wheat. No flour or meal was kept on sale here in those days.
The first sawed lumber used here was whip-sawed by hand. The first sawmills-the old up-and-down saws-were erected on Two-Mile Creek (of Elk) from 1815 to 1820, and run by water power.
The first sermon ever preached here was by the Rev. William Steele, a Methodist minister, in January, 1804, at the house of Mr. William Williams, on the corner of Kanawha and Hale streets. Rev. Asa Shinn was the first minister apointed to this circuit, a few months later. The Rev. Henry Bascom, the afterward distinguished and eloquent Bishop
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APPENDIX.
Bascom, preached here for some time in 1813. The Rev. Henry Ruffner was the first Pres- byterian preacher here, about 1816, and was the father of Presbyterianism in the valley. He organized the first Presbyterian congregation.
The first Catholic sermon ever preached here was in 1846 by Bishop Whelan, then Bishop of Virginia. The services were held in the Court-House. At that time there was not a Catholic living in the valley. The Bishop came here again in 1851, during an epi- demic, and was quite ill, so that he had to be carried from the boat to the hotel (the Kana- wha House). On recovering he proceeded to Lewisburg, but held no service here. The only Catholic then living here was Mr. Edward Kenna, father of the late Senator Kenna. In 1864, Father Park came. He had a small congregation at Peytona, on Coal River, but none in town.
In 1866, Rev. Joseph W. Stenger organized the first Catholic congregation in the city as the Kanawha County Mission, and commenced the erection of a church and St. Mary's Academy. The church was completed in 1869 and the convent in 1872.
The first Baptist congregation was organized by Rev. P. H. Murphy in 1869, and a church built on Donnally street.
The colored Methodists erected a church on Quarrier street in 1868. The Rev. Charles Fisher was their first minister.
The colored Baptists built a church on Washington street in 1872. Their first pastor was Rev. Frank James.
The first colored free school was established in 1867, Miss Lucy James being their first teacher.
The first Jewish congregation was organized in 1873, Rabbi Schedd being their first teacher, followed by Rabbi Strauss. The synagogue was built on State street in 1876.
The first attorney admitted to the Courts was Mr. Edward Graham, August 1, 1796. He was appointed Commonwealth Attorney at a salary of $40 a year.
The first resident physician was Dr. Eoff, in 1811, followed by Dr. N. W. Thompson.
The first taverns or inns were Buster's, at the northeast corner of Kanawha and Court streets, and Griffin's, at the northeast corner of Kanawha and Summers streets.
The prices charged for food, lodging and drinks were regulated by law.
Breakfast, dinner or supper. 25 cts.
Lodging, per night 1272 cts.
Horse at hay, per night 25 cts.
Horse at pasture, per night. 2112 cts.
Jamaica Spirits, Cognac Brandy and Madeira Wine, per gallon, $6.00.
Whiskey and Peach Brandy, per gallon, $2.00.
Cherry Bounce and Country Gin, $3.00.
Beer and Cider, 50 cts.
The first blacksmith here was John Greenlea, followed in 1804 or 1805 by Jack Neal, col- ored, who had a very eventful history.
Among school teachers, Herbert P. Gaines was the first, with Levi Welch a good second; followed by Jacob Rand, James A. Lewis, Lewis Ruffner, Ezra Walker, etc.
Mercer Academy was built in 1818. The first drug store was established by Dr. Henry Rogers in 1825. The first newspapers established here were: The Kanawha Patriot, by Her- bert P. Gaines in 1819; The Western Courier, by Mason Campbell, in 1820; The Western Regis- ter, by Messrs. A. T. & J. M. Laidley, in 1829.
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