History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 30

Author: Laidley, William Sydney, 1839-1917. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Richmond-Arnold publishing co
Number of Pages: 1066

USA > West Virginia > Kanawha County > Charleston > History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens > Part 30

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

224

HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

getting out its various products. The location of the planing mill where it has favorable freight rates enables the company to purchase the output of smaller mills, as well as other desirable blocks of stock in poplar and oak, which avoids the necessity of sorting its own lumber for use in the planing mill.

The planing mill is equipped with all the best machinery for the economical manufacture if its product, including planers, matchers, molders, band, rip and resaws, cutoff saws and a well equipped blacksmith and machine shop, all driven by a 24x48 Corliss engine. An electric lighting plant of ample capacity makes night running practicable during the busier seasons.

In the storage shed, with a capacity of 1,500,000 feet, is kept a complete assortment of the different widths, lengths, and grades of standard stock. Under the covered platform five cars can be loaded at one time, and pro- vision is made for the loading of mixed cars with rough and finished lumber at the same time. The company has also at St. Albans a large distributing yard, where it keeps a com- plete stock, consisting of about 4,000,000 feet of hardwood lumber in the various grades and thicknesses. Here it can load cars containing rough and dressed lumber, siding, flooring, moldings, dimension stock, lath, ceiling-in fact, all the hardwood products, both rough and finished.

The Bowman Lumber Company of St. Al- bans, WV. Va., was organized in 1886 with a capital stock of $100,000. The concern owns 50,000 acres of timber in Raleigh County, W. Va. The capacity of the mill is 50,000 feet daily of soft wood and 40,000 all grades of hard and soft wood. The mill, which is a large modern one, began operations in 1888. It and the yards are located on Coal River, St. Albans. The officers are : S. C. Rowland, of Baltimore, Md., president; J. Roman Way, of Williamsport, Pa., secretary and treasurer, and Hon. E. C. Colcord, of St. Albans, W. Va., general manager.

D. J. Lewis erected the St. Albans Flour- ing Mill for a bark mill, which was later con- verted into a tobacco warehouse and so con- tinued for one year during which time $60,000

were lost. Golden & Jordan then made it a flouring mill. It was built just before the panic of 1873, and it was four or five years after it was built that it was changed to a flouring- mill. The owners of the mill after Golden & Jordan were: Samuel Jordan, then Calvert & Nurnberger; then T. W. Shank, then Nurn- berger & Baldwin; Mr. Nurnberger then bought Mr. Baldwin's interest. The mill is now owned by Joseph Nurnberger. It has a capacity of 25 barrels of flour a day, besides a car load of meal and feed. The building is a large frame structure, facing the C. & O. Railroad.

There is a tobacco warehouse in St. Albans, which is leased by the American Tobacco Company. In 1910, 2,000,000 pounds of to- bacco were sold in St. Albans. The Atkinson Foundry and Car Shops was built in 1908. The McGregor Manufacturing Co. built a plant for manufacture of columns and balusters.

The Bank of St. Albans. This bank was organized August 14, 1900 and the present substantial brick building erected in December, 1906. Since then it has paid in dividends to stockholders $30,000.00. C. D. Hereford is president, W. E. Mohler, vice-president, and C. A. Zerkle, cashier. The directors are E. C. Colcord, G. C. Weimer, J. V. R. Skinner, H. B. Smith, W. E. Mohler, C. D. Hereford and C. A. Zerkle-all business men of acknowl- edged ability and among St. Albans' foremost citizens. This bank extends to all every ac- commodation consistent with good banking. It conducts a savings department, paying three per cent, with interest compounded twice a year, and deposits may be made in any amount and withdrawn without notice. It also has safety deposit boxes for those who wish to avail themselves of this convenience, the boxes being rented at $2.00 per year. The bank is conducted on safe and conservative lines but follows a liberal policy within proper limits. Its statement for March 17, 1911, was as fol- lows :

RESOURCES

Loans and Discounts $127,637.31

Overdrafts

523.76

Banking House 17,500.00

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Due from Banks

31,195.18

$184,385.36

LIABILITIES

Capital Stock $ 30,000.00

Surplus Profit

3,000.00

Undivided Profits

2,032.71

Due to Banks

3,789.59

$184,385.36

George Weimer & Sons of St. Albans, Kana- wha County, W. Va., who have operated here since 1889, are jobbers and wholesale dealers in rough and dressed lumber. They handle about 10,000,000 feet of all kinds of lumber annually, covering all grades of wood in the building line. The firm is composed of George Weimer and his sons, George C. Weimer and James Weimer. The Weimers moved from Buffalo, N. Y. to St. Albans, W. Va. The product is shipped to all parts of the country. The finished product is sold in nearby counties in West Virginia. George Weimer, senior member of the firm, entered the lumber busi- ness in 1870 in Buffalo, N. Y. They operate mills in Fayette County, W. Va., and in Cal- houn County, Ga. Their yards and sales of- fice are in St. Albans, W. Va.

The first M. E. Church erected in the vicin- ity of St. Albans was the little log church put up in 1820 by Mrs. Stephen Teays for the Methodists. This church was used by the Methodists and by the Episcopalians from 1845-47 for worship after the Episcopal Church had been destroyed by fire. About 1847 the log church of the Methodists, erected by Mrs. Stephen Teays, was replaced by the present brick structure or house of worship, St. Marks, of the Episcopalians. In 1857 on the seventh day of September, a deed was made by J. Franklin Johnson and Susan Johnson, his wife conveying one-tenth of one acre to Charles W. Hill, Elijah Rock, Milton Snyder, Samuel Gilliland and I. Grobe, trustees for the Southern Methodist Church of Coalsmouth part of Lot No. 17 in the plat of P. R. Thomp- son's Estate, which lies on the lane leading from the turnpike to the mouth of Cool

river. The lot was conveyed to trustees in consideration of the payment of $40.00. The lot was conveyed to said Johnson by deed from the heirs of Birkett D. Thompson, de- ceased. The first house of worship erected on this site was a brick structure and was used as a place of worship until work was begun, April 11, 1910, to demolish the building to make room for the present structure which is a neat brick edifice, Gothic in architecture. The first services were held in the new church September 3, 1911. This structure was erected at a cost of $7,000. The old church was used during the Civil war bv Union sol- diers for stabling horses. The court of claims allowed the sum of $1,400 for damage to property. Deducting commissions, this will net over $1,100 to the church, but there has never been any appropriation made to cover the allowance. Rev. A. A. Hollister, who was the pastor, preached the first sermon in the new building. The present pastor is Rev. W. B. Corder. The trustees are: J. L. Kelly, Joseph Nurenberger, I. E. Johnson, Charles Cox, and L. W. Swindler. The membership numbers about 140.

The Northern Methodist Church of St. Al- bans, W. Va. The lot on which this church stands was donated by ex-Gov. G. W. Atkin- son and the edifice, which was the old Pres- byterian church, was given by Grant Hall, the church being moved to its present location. The congregation has no regular pastor.

The Episcopal Church of St. Albans .- Morris Hudson had come in 1808 from Penn- sylvania and bought up a large tract of land on the lower side of Two-and-three-quarter mile creek. His family were the first Episco- palians in the Kanawha Valley. They were joined in 1816 by Col. Philip Root Thomp- son, from Culpeper County, Va., whose family were also Episcopalians. They occupied a part of the Washington Survey, as did also for a while the general's nephew, Samuel Washing- ton. A delightful community grew up and be- came decidedly, if not exclusively, devoted to the Episcopal Church. Although the first church erected was the log building put up in 1820 by Mrs. Stephen Teays for the Metho- dists.

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HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

In 1825 Major Morris Hudson built of brick the little "Bangor" Episcopal Church, near where the pike crossed Two-and three- quarter-mile Creek.

Of this church Rev. James Craik was rec- tor, and here his successor, Rev. T. B. Nash, of New England, maintained an old field school frequented by the Hudsons, Thompsons, Turners, Swindlers, Thorntons, Lasleys, Cape- harts, Lewises, etc.

This church was burned in 1845 and the Episcopalians worshipped in the Methodist Church until they built St. Marks in 1847. Not much later the Episcopalians, Col. B. S. Thompson and Beverly Tompkins, were on the committee which replaced the log house of the Methodists with the present brick building, but the community remained decidedly Epis- copalian.

During the Civil War the Federal troops took charge of the church and did much dam- age to the property. Port holes were made in the different approaches to the building for protection in the event of an attack. The court of claims have recently allowed the sum of $2,400 to cover the damage by troops to the Episcopal Church and $1,800 for the same purpose to the Methodist.

There are at the present time forty-one com- municants. Rev. Arthur M. Lewis is rector. The rectory stands on the fine plot of ground owned by the church.

The rectors of St. Mark's church, Bangor Parish, St. Albans, W. Va., since 1822, have been : Charles H. Page, Sept. 1822 to 1833; John Martin, Sept. 1833 to 1839; James Crark, 1841 to 1845; Francis S. Nash, March, 1845 to 1852; Robert T. Brown, - · to ; - - Henderson, Jan., 1854 to Dec., 1856; Hershaw, 1856 to 1856; Alonzo J. M. Hud- son, April 10, 1859 to April, 1861; Wm. G. Stewart, July, 1867 to April, 1868; Horace E. Hayden, July 1, 1862 to Jan. 1, 1871 ; Charles B. Mee, Oct. 15, 1871 to Sept. 27, 1872; David Barr, June 1, 1873 to May 31, 1874; Pendleton Brooke, 1874 to 1875; John W. Sea, Oct. 1878 to May 15, 1884; J. B. Fitz- patrick, 1884 to 1887; Charles M. Campbell, 1887 to 1892; Peter Wager, 1892 to 1894; John R. Joyner, 1894 to 1902; John Warnock,

1903 to 1906; John M. Hamilton, 1907 to Oct. 1, 1908; Arthur M. Lewis, Oct. 1, 1909

St. Albans Presbyterian Church-It is stated that Presbyterianism was first preached at Coalsmouth by the Rev. James M. Brown, D. D., who was the pastor of the church in Charleston for twenty-one years. He went to Greenbrier and buried his son, Samuel, and his daughter, and there he died, leaving Rev. John C. Brown, the only remaining one of the family.

After the war, in 1868, the Rev. Mr. B. B. Blair, the Rev. J. C. Brown and the Rev. Mr. McClintic, of Kentucky, proceeded to organize the church and the first meeting of the ses- sion was held in September, 1868, the mem- bers numbering seventeen. The presbytery was held in 1869 at St. Albans. Rev. Mr. Eells was next called. He died in 1897 and he left the church with about 113 members. In 1873 the trustees were elected but there was no church. They used the town hall, but the struggle was going on "all the same" and with about $1,750 in 1878 they had a small church.

In 1881 Mr. G. F. Hansford and his wife set out some trees around the little church and named the trees, viz: "Powers, Eells, Hill, Taylor, Hansford, Swindler and Mohler."

In Memoriam-James F. Hansford died in 1889; Francis H. Taylor in 1891; Col. Joseph R. Hill in 1892; John T. Simmes, 1901; Capt. S. C. Wheeler in 1904; Thomas A. Teays and Mrs. W. E. Mohler, 1905.

After Rey. G. T. Lyle, who served the church from 1884 to 1894 came the Rev. M. B. Lambdin, 1904-1904, then Charles W. Sommerville, 1905-1907; Rev. G. W. Ship- ley, 1907-19II.

Elders-William E. Mohler, T. S. P. Bowers, C. A. Zerkle and F. H. Sattes. Clerk of session, Elder W. E. Mohler; trus- tees, F. H. Sattes, W. S. Oxley and C. A. Specht, organist, Mrs. Nathan E. Grogan; assistant organist, Miss Edith May Mohler ; sexton, C. W. Bullington.

The New Church-William E. Mohler says the new church was finished in 1910, at a cost of $24,000 and was dedicated October 15,

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

1910. It has now a membership of 135 with five elders and seven deacons and a well- equipped Sunday-school.

The stone church is a splendid piece of work, as architecture, and that this congrega- tion could erect such a building shows that they had many good men, with considerable means and a will to give largely to this work. May the Lord bless them all.

Mr. William E. Mohler has been blessed and he has been able to devote his time and his energy and his means, to the church, and the congregation has been blessed in him. The thirty-seventh anniversary of the organization of the St. Albans Presbyterian Church was observed in 1905, and he had then served said church as Presiding Elder for twenty years, and not only the local church, but the Presby- tery, the Synod and the General Assembly- all of which deserved recognition, which was gracefully tendered him in the publication of a commemorative pamphlet.

This church has done much good for all the people of that community and all the country. May they all recognize the blessings they have enjoyed and may William E. Mohler enjoy the blessings of the congregation which he has served so faithfully. Col. Hill, Mr. Taylor and Mr. Hansford are sure to be remembered and now Mr. Mohler is to be added to the list of faithful good men.

There is one hospital in St. Albans owned by Dr. W. H. Wilson, and two hotels, the Colonial and the Majestic. The Majestic is the older. There are about thirty mercantile establishments, large and small, four practic- ing physicians, two dentists, one funeral di- rector and one photographer, two or three in- surance offices, two liveries, and telephone and telegraph service. The churches in St. Albans are the Presbyterian, Episcopal, Bap- tist, M. E. Church (north), M. E. Church (south), and one Baptist Church (colored) - six in all. There are some fine business houses which have been erected since the fire in 1906. There are also many beautiful res- idences. There is much wealth and culture, more than is ordinarily found in towns of less than 2,000 population.

A good school is found there with fine brick

building and large campus. The school build- ing was erected in 1900, an addition being built to it in 1909. It contains eight rooms, and 250 pupils are enrolled, which are in charge of seven teachers.

There is a board of trade in the town which was organized July 16, 1906, to advance the claims of St. Albans as a desirable location for those seeking manufacturing sites, homes or business location. This board of trade has sixty members and its officers are: J. V. R. Skinner, president; T. H. Mohler, treasurer ; and William M. Wood, secretary.

The shipping facilities of St. Albans are ex- ceptionally good, as the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, and the Coal River Railroad enter the place. The latter was built as an inde- pendent line but has been purchased by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad and operated as a part of that system. Just across the Kana- wha river from St. Albans is Sattes, named for the Sattes family, who owned the prop- erty on which the place was laid out, through which the Kanawha & Michigan Railroad passes, reached by a ferry. St. Albans has steam boat service daily. The new iron bridge across Coal river at St. Albans was erected in 1908.

Coalsmouth High School was incoporated in 1872, the site procured and the building be- gun. It was an enterprise of the Baptist Church, and was expected to develop into a Baptist College. Dr. P. B. Reynolds of Rich- mond, was the principal; H. W. Hovery, A. M., assistant with primary assistant. The school was taught with St. Albans public schools for one year '72 and '73, there being a large enrollment from many parts of the state. In October, 1873, the building was first occupied with Dr. Reynolds and Baylus Cade as principal instructors. The name was changed to Shelton College in 1875 or 1876. Geo. Boreman Foster, of Chicago University, Congressman Joseph H. Gaines, Senator N. E. Chilton, Dr. C. E. Haworth of Marshall Col- lege and James H. Stewart of W. Va. Univer- sity and many of the leading men of the state received their academic training here. Lack of endowment and proper financial management caused the overthrow of one of the best educa-

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HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

tional institutions of the state. The Baptists gave it up in 1884. Rev. Lyle of the Presby- terian church conducted a school here for two years, and W. G. Miller for several terms.

A dispensation for the institution of a Ma- sonic lodge at St. Albans was issued by the Grand Lodge of West Virginia on the first day of February, 1873, to be hailed and styled as Washington Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; M. L. Mayo to act as W. M .; M. W. Wilber as S. W .; and J. H. McConaha as J. W. The first meet- ing was held on the 4th of June following, when the following named were present: W. L. Mayo, W. M .; W. F. Claughton, S. W .; John H. McConaha, J. W .; J. S. Cunningham, secretary ; Frederick A. Sattis, treasurer ; N. L. Carpenter, tyler ; J. C. Raradan, S. D., and M. T. Bridwell, of Kanawha Lodge No. 20. Con- siderable work was done in the lodge before the granting of the charter, which bore date of No- vember 12, 1873. The lodge is now in a flour- ishing condition.

The federal census gives a population of I209 to St. Albans, but according to the local census there are 1,400 within its corporate limits.

Amandaville, which is located just across the river from St. Albans, is not incorporated. It has about 1,200 people in about the same radius as the corporate limits of St. Albans.

WASHINGTON DISTRICT

Washington district extends on the east side of Coal river from Jefferson up to Bull creek. It has Smith's creek, Alum creek, Little Brier and Big Brier creeks. Tornado is its largest town, but there will be others. It is noted for its excellence and varieties of coal, for its tim- ber and its transportation facilities. It ex- tends eastward to Loudon and has Boone county on its south, and Lincoln on its west. Possibly there is more room for development in Washington than in any other district, and it is being developed. It is near the Lincoln oil and gas field and has its own coal.

Coal river washes its entire southwestern boundary. Smith creek, named in memory of Joseph Smith, the first settler upon its banks, Crooked creek, Alum creek, named from an alum rock about one mile from its mouth, Bear

creek, and Brier creek, named from the greer. briers that grow along it, all flow in a south- westerly direction and discharge their waters into Coal river.

Joseph Thomas removed to the falls of Coal and erected the first cabin within the present limits of the district about the year 1800. Soon after him came James Thomas, Samuel Beach, Leonard Nicholas and Joseph Smith, and a few years later they were followed by Randall Auler, Thomas Nance, Joseph Brown, Joseph Smith, Thomas Maupin, Joseph Midkiff, Rich- ard Bryant, John Hill, Jacob Hill, John Tur- ley, and Allen M. Smith. All were actual set- tlers, and all found what they came to seek- homes.

The first grist-mill was erected by Joseph Thomas, at the falls of Coal river about the year 1812; it was a round log structure, with one run of stone, a tub wheel, and ground nothing but corn.

The first saw-mill was erected on Little Coal river by Allen M. Smith in 1845, and some years later Edward Kenna erected one at the upper falls of Coal. It was a good substantial frame building, with old-fashioned sash saw. The capacity was 3,500 feet per day.

Tradition says that the first school ever taught on Coal river above its mouth was four miles above the falls, by a man named Stanley. in the year 1816. About fifteen pupils were in attendance. receiving instruction under the old "Subscription Act." The house was a rude cabin with a "dirt" floor and a V-shaped chim- ney, which occupied one entire end of the building.

The first church organization perfected was the Upper Falls Baptist congregation, in the year 1817. The second was the Baptist church at the forks of Coal, a few years later ..

LOUDON DISTRICT

Loudon district is on south side of Kanawha extending from Spring Hill up above Lens creek, running back to Boone county. It has Davis creek, and its branches and forks, Job- lins branch, Ferry branch, Hale's branch, Lick branch, Rush creek and Lens creek. It has Brownstown (called Marmet for short) for a town and it has Kanawha City for a city, where

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CHARLESTON

Baptist Church, Charleston, W.Va

1250

BAPTIST CHURCH, CHARLESTON

CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART, CHARLESTON

EPISCOPAL CHURCH, CHARLESTON

BREAM MEMORIAL CHURCH, CHARLESTON

NORTHERN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CHARLESTON

231

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

one of a hundred thousand people could live happily. The upper end of Charleston is oppo- site the lower end of Kanawha City, and it ex- tends up to Malden, and from Charleston to Malden is six miles. Davis creek spreads all over Loudon. There was discovered the Black Band coal which had iron in it, and they built a furnace for the coal and ore to work to- gether. They also built a railroad up Davis creek to Chilton.

This district is noted for many things, among them its good people, its splendid views, its railroad facilities and its many townsites.

The surface is much broken, and in the south is mountainous, and the river bottom (with the exception of the northwestern corner) is nar- row, while in many places, as opposite the city of Charleston, the hills rise abruptly from the river, the base, in some places, being cut away in the construction of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway. Davis creek is the principal stream. It flows with and empties into the Kanawha.

Leonard Morris, whose settlement in the val- ley is elsewhere noticed in this work, built the first cabin in the district. Other early settlers, nearly all of whom came before the beginning of present century, were Andrew Donnally, Charles Norris, Charles Venable, Charles Brooklin, Evan Price, John Lawrence, Benja- min Price, Henry Snodgrass, Luke Wilcox, John B. Crockett, Samuel Hensley, Robert Brown, Robert Berry, James Reynolds, Job English, Allicot Reynolds, Isaiah Curry, James Curry, Thomas Harris, Samuel L. Smith, Thomas Mathews, Fleming Cobb, John Young, Guy P. Mathews, Benjamin Eastwood and William Blaine.

The first grist mill was built by a man named Estill. on Davis creek. We cannot ascertain date, but our informant says "it was built at an early day." Another mill was built at Blaine's island, by a man of the name of Blaine. The date of its erection cannot be ascertained, but it is known to have been running in the year 1823. It was a log building, and the dam ex- tended from the south side of the river to the island. In 1869 a small water-mill, with one run of burrs, was built by a man named Jere- miah Authur. The oldest postoffice in the district is the Brownstown office. It was es-

tablished many years ago, under the name of Lens creek, but in recent years it has been made to correspond with that of the town.

FIRST FRUIT TREES BROUGHT TO THE KANAWHA VALLEY

The first apple trees brought over the Alle- ghenies and transplanted in the Kanawha Val- ley, were carried from Virginia by Fleming Cobb in a pair of leather bags, in the year 1780, and planted on the old Cobb homestead, near the mouth of Davis creek. At the same time he also brought two pear trees, which were planted on the farm known as the Blaine's island homestead.

The first Sabbath school was organized in 1875, by Luke Wilcox at Brownstown. It is in a prosperous condition, having a member- ship of ninety-seven. Rufus Workmen is the present superintendent. The second organized was the Lick Branch Union school by H. C. Welty, in 1877. The present attendance is sixty-four, with Mrs. Maria Allen superin- tendent. Besides these there is a Union school on Davis creek, a Baptist school at Piney Grove, and another at the same place in charge of the Methodist Episcopal church.

BROWNSTOWN OR MARMET.

Brownstown (or Marmet) grew up from a long time ago. It was begun and located when salt works were in feather, and it was on the south side of the Kanawha river just below the mouth of Lens creek, up which creek the road over to Boone and Logan counties led. On the upper side of the creek, near the river, was the salt furnace of Luke Wilcox, whose farm re- mained in the hands of his family and whose daughter, Mrs. Amelia Bradford has lately died. Below the creek was the furnace of Charles Brown, after whom the town took its name. Charles Brown came to Kanawha about 1804, was a man of means, owned much real estate and was a son-in-law of Reuben Slaugh- ter, the surveyor in 1808. People and traders coming to Charleston from Logan or Boone or anywhere in such vicinity, for trade or busi- ness, came to the Kanawha river at this place. It was just ten miles above Charleston and it has always had much business in a small way.

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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 30

Author: Laidley, William Sydney, 1839-1917. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Richmond-Arnold publishing co Number of Pages: 1066

Author: Laidley, William Sydney, 1839-1917. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Richmond-Arnold publishing co
Number of Pages: 1066