USA > West Virginia > History and government of West Virginia > Part 14
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236 HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA.
contains much of the educational history of the peo- ple of a later date. Within a year thereafter, a volume of poems written by a West Virginian was published at Huntington, West Virginia. It was entitled "The Mountain Bard," and was the work of Charles Russell Christian, of Logan county, who said: "My honest endeavor has been to sow the seeds of literature in this hitherto barren land." The author died June 3d, 1889, aged twenty-nine years.
7. Great Flood in the Ohio River .- The greatest flood in the Ohio river since its valley had been occu- pied by white men occurred in February, 1884. The region lying between the Alleghany mountains and the Great Lakes had been one of continued drouth the preceding year, but as winter approached it became a region of storms. Those from the far North- west warred with those from the Atlantic coast, and the result was the greatest snow-fall ever known in the Ohio Valley. The last days of January brought a thaw and a heavy and continued rainfall, so that by the first week in February the waters passed the danger point and inundated the bottom lands so that the river extended from hill to hill, and by February 7th there was a depth of fifty-three feet at Wheeling, and fifty-seven feet at the mouth of the Great Kana- wha on the IIth of the same month. There was great destruction of property and much suffering, but the latter was relieved by the charities of the entire country and substantial aid from the National Government.
8. The West Virginia Stone in the Washington Monument .- The Washington Monument in the City
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THE STATE UNDER THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION. 237
of Washington is the highest monument in the United States, and the most imposing ever built to the mem- ory of one man. In its erection the States and Nations of the earth were each invited to contribute a stone. That supplied by West Virginia was taken from a quarry near Hinton, in Summers county, and is similar to that used in the construction of the Chesapeake and Ohio railway docks at Newport News, Virginia. It was prepared under the supervi- sion of William K. Pendleton of Bethany College, who in addition to the coat-of-arms of the State, had placed upon it the following inscription:
" Tuum nos sumus Monumentum."*
The stone measured two by four feet and was received in Washington February 2d, 1885, and is placed in the column more than two hundred feet above the floor of the shaft.
9. The Second Hospital for the Insane .- On Feb- ruary 20th, 1885, the Legislature passed a joint resolu- tion by which A. H. Kuntz, of Lewis county; Joseph Van Metre, of Hardy county; James Withrow, of Greenbrier county and John G. Schilling, of Roane county, were appointed a commission to report to the next session of the Legislature at least three places suitable for the location of a second hospital for the in- sane. The following year these commissioners viewed a number of sites and in compliance with the reso- lution requiring them to recommend at least three places they named Alderson, in Monroe county; Mason City, in Mason county and Charles Town, in Jef-
* " We are thy monument."
238 HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA.
ferson county. But no one of these places received the prize. The Legislature decided to locate the in- stitution at Spencer, in Roane county, and the sum of eight thousand dollars was appropriated with which to begin the work.
10. The West Virginia Wesleyan College .- This institution, originally called the West Virginia Con- ference Seminary, was located at Buckhannon, in Up- shur county, in July, 1887, and forty-three acres of land was purchased for the site. Soon after the work of building was begun and a three-story structure was completed in the year 1890. At the same time B. W. Hutchinson was elected to the presidency, other teachers were employed and the school was opened.
11. The West Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station .- As early as the year 1862, the National Congress began legislation, the object of which was to secure the teaching of such branches of learning as related to agriculture. This work was done thoroughly in the agricultural colleges established under the provisions of several acts of Congress, but something practical was needed to diffuse among the people useful information pertaining to agriculture. To secure this, Congress, on March 2d, 1887, passed an act which gave to each State the sum of fifteen thousand dollars to be used in making such research and experiments as would have a direct bearing upon the agricultural interests of the country. In compli- ance with the provisions of this act, the West Vir- ginia Agricultural Experiment Station was organized at Morgantown, in June 1887, when John A. Myers
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THE STATE UNDER THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION. 239
was chosen director of the institution. A building has been erected and supplied with laboratories, libraries and other necessary facilities for carrying on the different departments of agricultural science.
12. Death of Judge Matthew Edmiston .- On June 29th, 1887, Judge Matthew Edmiston died at his home in Weston, Lewis county. He was born September 9th, 1814, at Little Levels, Pocahontas county, now West Virginia, where, after receiving a common school education, he was admitted MATTHEW EDMISTON. · to the bar in 1835. Four years after he removed to Lewis county which, later, he represented in both branches of the General Assembly of Virginia. In 1852 he was chosen a judge of the Circuit Court, in which position he con- tinued until 1860. He was elected to a seat in the Constitutional Convention of 1872, but because of ill health did not qualify. He was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals in 1876, but one year before his death.
13. A Pioneer Record: Poetry and Song .- Two books were added to the literature of the State in 1887. The first was a work of great historical interest and value, entitled "Trans-Alleghany Pioneers," the author being John P. Hale, of Kanawha county. Pio- neer history does not repeat itself. The discovery, ex- ploration, conquest, settlement and civilization of a
240 HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA.
country takes place but once and for all time. The second book was a volume of poetry, entitled "Joy and other Poems," the production of Danske Dandridge, of Jefferson county; this was followed later by " Rose- brake," another volume. Both have been widely read; the author sees beauty in everything around her. 14. General Alfred Beckley .- Alfred Beckley was born May 26th, 1802, on Capitol Hill, Washington City, when his father was clerk of the Lower House of Congress. The father died in 1807, when the son was but five years of age. He was educated at Phil- adelphia, Pennsylvania, and Frankfort, Kentucky. Entering the United States Military Academy at West Point, he was graduated therefrom in 1823 and assigned to duty in the regular army, serving in the Fourth United States Artillery. He continued in the army until 1836, when he resigned and came to what is now Raleigh county, West Virginia, which county he was instrumental in hav- ing created. In 1850 he was made a brigadier-general in the military establishment of Virginia, a position he occupied until the beginning of the Civil War. He entered the Confederate army in GEN. ALFRED BECKLEY. 1861, and was made a pris- oner of war in 1862, but was soon released and re- turned to Raleigh county, where he resided until his death May 28th, 1888.
THE STATE UNDER THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION. 241
15. Morris Harvey College Founded .- After the removal of the seat of justice of Cabell county from Barboursville to Huntingdon, the court-house at the former town, a good, substantial structure, was unoc- cupied, and the citizens resolved to establish therein a school of high grade. Accordingly, the Barbours- ville Seminary was incorporated in ISSS, and with T. S. Wade, D.D., as president, and a faculty composed of several members, the school was opened in September. The institution later became a college, and it is now known as the Morris Harvey College.
16. Jonathan M. Bennett, Ex-Auditor of Virginia. -The 28th of October, ISS7, was the date of the death of another prominent West Virginian. It was Jonathan M. Bennett, who was born in Collins Settle- ment, Lewis county, now West Virginia, October 4th, 1816. Early in life he was deputy clerk of both county and circuit courts of his native county and in 1843 he was admitted to the bar and entered upon the practice of law. He was the first mayor of Weston. In 1851 he was elected a member of the General Assembly of Vir- ginia. In IS57 Governor Henry A. Wise appointed him to the position of first Auditor of Virginia, in which JONATHAN M. BENNETT. office he continued until 1865. He did much to secure the location of the Hos- pital for the Insane at Weston. With A. W. Camp-
242 HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA.
bell and General John Jay Jackson, he was appointed in 1871, by the Governor of West Virginia, to adjust with Virginia the respective proportions of the public debt of the old State.
17. David Hunter Strother: "Port Crayon."-One of the most widely known literary men of the United States was David H. Strother. He was born at Martinsburg, now West Virginia, September 26th, 1816, and died at Charles Town, Jefferson county, March 8th, 1888. One of his early teachers was Samuel F. B. Morse, afterwards famous as the in- ventor of the electric telegraph. Young Strother spent two years as an art student at Rome and was four years an artist and writer in New York City. Returning to the scenes of his childhood he adopted the nom-de-plume of "Port Crayon," and gave to American literature "The Virginia Canaan," which made his name famous. He served in the Federal army during the Civil War and arose to the rank of brigadier-general. In 1877, President Hayes ap- pointed him Consul-General to Mexico, and in this position he served seven years in the capital city of that country.
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CHAPTER XXIV.
THE STATE UNDER THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION- Continued.
From 1889 to 1893.
1. Salem College Founded .- This institution is located at Salem on the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, fourteen miles west of Clarksburg, in Harrison county. Prior to the year 1889, action was taken to secure the necessary funds to establish the school, this work being largely in the hands of J. L. Hoffman. The effort was successful and a build- ing was completed and the institution opened on January 21st, 1889. S. Maxson was the first presi- dent. He resigned in June, 1892, and was succeeded by Theodore L. Gardner.
2. Commissioner of Labor; Mine Inspector; State Bank Examiner .- The rapid growth of the manu- facturing, mining and commercial interests of the · State was such that the Legislature considered the im- portance of each and gave to all the recognition which they required. On February 21st, 1889, an act was passed establishing a State Bureau of Labor, to collect and compile statistics relating to, and to provide for the inspection of the industrial establishments of tlie State. February 13th, 1890, by legislative enact- ment, West Virginia was divided into two mining
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HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA.
districts, in each of which the Governor was author- ized to appoint a Mine Inspector, the object of the law being to secure the ventilation and drainage of the mines, and the protection of lives of persons employed therein. On February 23d, 1891, a law was enacted which provided for the examination, supervision and control, of banks doing business under the laws of this State, other than the National banks, and authorizing the Governor to appoint an officer to be known as State Bank Examiner.
3. West Virginia Industrial School for Boys .- This institution (originally called "The West Vir- ginia Reform School") was established by an act of the Legislature passed February 11th, 1889. The Governor was required to appoint a commission to select a location; said commission to be composed of
. the State Superintendent of Free Schools and one member from each of the four congressional districts. The Executive, in compliance, appointed Benjamin S. Morgan, Albert A. Franzheim, J. P. Scott, W. J. Shanklin and Lindsey Merrill. This commission visited Wheeling, Kingwood, Keyser, Morgantown, Buckhannon, Clarksburg, Parkersburg, St. George and Pruntytown. The last named place was selected as the site. Taylor county donated the old court house and other buildings and citizens gave five thousand dollars. Then one hundred and twenty-six acres of land was purchased. A Board of Directors was ap- pointed and May 12th, 1890, C. C. Showalter was elected Principal. 'The first inmate was admitted on July 21st ensuing.
THE STATE UNDER THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION. 245
4. The West Virginia National Guard .- For a number of years laws relating to the militia of the State had been enacted, but on February 22d, 1891, the Legislature passed an act reducing all former laws into one. Under this enactment the entire military force of the State is designated as the " West Virginia National Guard." It is liable to be ordered into active service at any time by the Governor, who is the Commander-in-Chief, and it may be by him assigned to the service of the United States outside of the State, upon the requisition of the President thereof, for a period not exceeding three months in any one year. The National Government contributes five thousand dollars annually, toward arming, uniforming and equipping the force, and the State supplies the addi- tional amount necessary for this purpose. The organ- ization is made up of two regiments, not to consist of more than ten companies each. The law requires an- nual encampments of six days for drill and instruction in military tactics and the arts of war. The first of these drills was at Gypsy Grove in Harrison county, beginning September 3d, 1891.
5. Death of a Distinguished Jurist .- On Decem- ber 4th, 1889, Judge Thomas Clairborne Green, one of the most eminent lawyers and jurists of the State, passed from among the living. He was born at Greenwood, Culpeper county, Virginia, in 1820. Early in life he was admitted to the bar and came to Charles Town, Jefferson county, now West Virginia, to practice his profession. Later he resided at Romney and then returned to Charles Town. He was a mem-
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246 HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA.
ber of the General Assembly when the Civil War began, and he left the halls of legislation for service in the army. After partici- pating in many fiercely con- tested battles, he was placed at the head of the tax-col- lectorship of Virginia. After the surrender at Appomat- tox, he returned to Charles Town, where he was engaged in the practice of the law, when Governor John J. THOMAS C. GREEN. Jacob, in 1875, appointed him to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Bench caused by the death of Judge James Paull. A year later he was elected for the unexpired term, and in 1880, was re-elected for the term of twelve years, and was on the bench at the time of his death.
6. Preserving the History of the State .- In the year 1889, the " History of West Virginia," written by Virgil A. Lewis, was published. It was the first work designed to cover the history of the entire State. This was followed a year later by the history of "The Lower Shenandoah Valley." It was edited by J. E. Norris, and it is the most extensive work pertaining to the history of our State or any part of it, which has been given to the public. The territory covered by it is composed of Berkeley and Jefferson counties in West Virginia and Frederick and Clarke counties in Virginia. It treats of the earliest annals of our State.
THE STATE UNDER THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION. 247
7. The West Virginia Historical and Antiqua- rian Society .- As early as March 2d, 1870, the Legislature passed an act incorporating the West Virginia Historical Society, which organized and began the work it was designed to do. Several meet- ings were held at Morgantown, but the work was neglected and the society ceased to exist. On the evening of January 29th, 1890, a call appeared in the Charleston daily papers, inviting all West Virginians feeling an interest in the history of their State, to meet in the senate chamber on the following evening for the purpose of organizing a West Virginia His- torical and Antiquarian Society. Those signing the call were E. M. Turner, John P. Hale, Virgil A. Lewis, John L. Cole, Bernard L. Butcher, A. L. Wade, Daniel B. Lucas, Charles B. Hart, Thomas D. Houston, Presley W. Morris, Lewis S. Newman, William H. McClung, C. P. Snyder, M. S. Bryte, Isaac H. Duval, R. P. Chew, J. B. Peyton and S. L. Flournoy. The organization was completed at the time designated and twenty-three members were enrolled. A charter was obtained and the society has accomplished a great work for the State.
8. Poets and Poetry of West Virginia .- The most prominent West Virginians not previously men- tioned who have contributed to poetry and song, whose works have been published in book form, are Waitman Barbe, Emma Withers, and Dudley H. Davis. "Wildwood Chimes," the work of Emma Withers, of Gilmer county, was published in 1891. The same year Dudley H. Davis, of Harrison county,
248 HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA.
sent to the press "Poems and Songs of the Age," and in 1892, " Ashes and Incense," by Waitman T. Barbe, of Wood county, appeared. All have been well received by the reading public and are making the names of the authors prominent in the literature of our country. These volumes give evidence that whilst the people are so actively engaged in material development, that of intellectual growth is keeping pace therewith. Critical reviewers in Europe as well as our own country have declared the work of Waitmau Barbe to possess very high literary merit and it has made the author known on both sides of the Atlantic.
9. Frank Hereford, ex-United States Senator .- Frank Hereford was born in Fauquier county, Vir- ginia, on July 4th, 1825, and died at Union, Monroe county, West Virginia, De- cember 21st, 1891. Early in life he went to Califor- nia, where he engaged in the practice of law. Later he removed to Nevada, and in 1866 made his permanent home in Union, Monroe county, West Virginia. In
1870, he was elected a mnem- FRANK HEREFORD. ber of Congress, and by suc- cessive re-elections, served until 1877, when on January 3Ist he entered the United States Senate, the Legisla- ture having elected him for the unexpired term of Allen T. Caperton, which terminated March 3d, 1881. He was a presidential elector in 1888.
عائالم
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THE STATE UNDER THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION. 249
10. The State Board of Agriculture. - The State Board of Agriculture was created by an Act of the Legislature passed on March 13th, 1891. It consists of five members, one from each Con- gressional District, and one at large, who are ap- pointed by the Governor. For several years farmers' organizations of the State had urged the necessity of such a board, and the legislative committee of the State Grange prepared the bill which became a law. In compliance with its provisions, Governor Fleming appointed the first members of the board as follows: B. F. Fisher, of Braxton county; C. R. Sperow, of Berkeley county; John M. Rowan, of Monroe county, and T. C. Atkinson, of Putnam county. This Board was organized in April, 1891. But see "Commissioner of Agriculture," on page 386.
11. The Office of State Librarian. - The State Library is exclusively law, the miscellaneous library being in possession of the West Virginia Historical and Antiquarian Society. Each contains thousands of volumes. The former is in charge of an official called the State Librarian, who is appointed by the Governor. The law creating the office was enacted on March 5th, 1891, and the first librarian thereunder was Charles L. Hagan. Previously the Adjutant- General discharged the duties of State Librarian.
12. Alexander Robinson Boteler dies in Jeffer- son County. - This distinguished citizen of West Virginia was born at Shepherdstown, May 16th, 1815. He was graduated from Princeton College, New Jersey, in 1835. In 1857, he was elected to a seat in
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250 HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA.
Congress. He cast his fortunes with those of his native State during the Civil War, and was a member of the Provisional Congress and later of the Congress of the Confederate States. Entering the military service, he served on the staff of General Thomas J. Jack- son, and was with Lee at Appomatox, whence he re- turned to Shepherdstown. President Grant appointed him a Centennial Commis- sioner in 1876, and President Arthur made him a member of the Tariff Commission. ALEXANDER R. BOTELER. Through the influence of a former school-mate, Attor- ney-General Brewster, he was appointed Pardon Clerk in the Department of Justice at Washington. He devoted much time in the latter years of his life to an effort to prove to the world that James Rumsey was the original inventor of the steamboat, and well in- deed did he succeed in this undertaking. He died in 1892.
13. Washington's Journal of Surveys in West Virginia, in 1747-8 .- In 1892, Joseph M. Toner, M.D., of Washington City, edited the Journal of George Washington kept by him when on a survey- ing tour for Lord Fairfax into the eastern part of West Virginia. This is the first systematic attempt to produce the writings of Washington with literal exactness, as to abbreviations, the use of capitals,
THE STATE UNDER THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION. 251
punctuation and spelling as practiced by the leader of the armies of the Revolution and the first President of the United States. The work presents the best view of the first settlements of West Virginia, that is in existence.
14. The West Virginia Colored Institute .- In 1890, Congress passed an Act appropriating a portion of the proceeds of the sale of public lands to the sup- port of colleges giving instruction in agriculture and mechanical arts. West Virginia receives annually the sumn of eighteen thousand dollars, of which sum fifteen thousand dollars were apportioned to the West Vir- ginia University, and three thousand dollars to the West Virginia Colored Institute, which was estab- lished at Farm, in Kanawha county, by the same act which made the apportionment of the money to the two institutions. Thirty acres of land was purchased and the corner stone of the principal build- ing was laid on October 11th, 1891, and the structure completed the following year. The school was for- mally opened on May 3d, 1892, and the following September, a Normal Department under State patron- age was added to the Institute.
CHAPTER XXV.
THE STATE UNDER THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION. - Continued.
From 1893 to the Present Time.
1. Death of United States Senator, John E. Kenna .- John Edward Kenna was born in Kanawha county, now West Virginia, on April 10th, 1848. In 1858, the father being dead, the mother removed to Missouri. At the age of sixteen he entered the Con- federate army and served until the close of the war, when he returned to Kana- wha county, where he read law and was admitted to the JOHN E. KENNA. bar. He was Prosecuting- Attorney of that county in 1872 and was elected to Congress in 1876, and re-elected for four con- secutive terms, but before the beginning of the session he was chosen to a seat in the United States Senate, and re-elected to the same position in 1889. He died at Washington City, January 11th, 1893.
2. West Virginia's Board of World's Fair Mana- gers .- On May 13th, 1890, the Governor, in com- pliance with an act of Congress, nominated J. W. St.
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THE STATE UNDER THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION. 253
Clair of Fayette county and J. D. Butts of Jefferson county, to be appointed by the President of the United States as representatives of the State on the National Board of World's Fair Managers. March 4th, 1891, the Legislature passed an act providing for the appointment of a Board of World's Fair Managers of West Virginia. In compliance with this provision, the Governor named William N. Chancellor, of Wood county; Robert S. Carr, of Kanawha county; Jolin S. Naylor, of Ohio county; George M. Bowers, of Berkeley county, and Sydney Haymond, of Harrison county, to compose the said Board.
3. The Work of the Board of Managers .- The law creating the board defined its duties to be the
WEST VIRGINIA BUILDING, WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION.
collection, arrangement and display of the products of the State at the World's Columbian Exposition. To defray the expenses of this work the sum of forty
254 HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA.
thousand dollars was appropriated, one half of which was to be used in erecting a suitable building for the . State on the grounds of the Exposition, in Jackson Park, Chicago, Illinois. Meanwhile, the Legislature at its session in 1893, appropriated twenty thousand dollars additional, making sixty thousand dollars in all. This sum made it possible for the board to place on exhibition such a collection of the products of the fields, mines, forests and manufactures of the State that the whole world was surprised at it.
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