USA > West Virginia > Kanawha County > Charleston > History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens > Part 41
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Elkana Lodge No. 63. Meets every Friday evening in K. of P. Hall, 111/2 Capitol. C. B. Oakes, K. of R. and S., 1310 Washington.
Glendale Lodge No. 78. Meets every Tues- day evening at 7:30 in Elk Banking Co.'s Hall, Charleston cor. Tennessee av. Felix E. Wal- lace, K. of R. and S., 107 Roane.
Keuka Lodge No. 26; chartered Nov. 5, 1879; meets every Wednesday evening at 217 Capitol. Forest Wash, K. of R. and S.
Knights of the Maccabees.
Elk City Tent No. 9. Meets every Wednes- day evening in Ort's Hall, Charleston cor. Ten- nessee av. F. F. McLane, R. K .; Gus Ban- dusch, F. K., 412 Bibby.
Capitol Tent No. 43. Meets every Thurs- day evening at 218 Capitol. Frank Calvert, R. K. and F. K., R. F. D. No. I.
Ladies of the Maccabees.
L. O. T. M., Hive No. 6. Meets every Tuesday at I. O. O. F. Hall, Virginia s. w. cor. Pennsylvania av. Cecilia Shiller, K. of R. : Katie Gherken, K. of F.
Capital City Hive No. 20. Meets every Tuesday evening at Odd Fellows' Hall, Cap- itol cor. State.
Modern Woodmen of America.
Charleston Camp No. 5719, M. W. of A. Meets every Monday evening in Odd Fellows' Hall. J. A. Rusk, clk., IIO Capitol.
Mystic Circle.
Capital City Ruling No. 70. Fraternal Mys- tic Circle. Meets on call. W. F. Calbreath, W. C., Broad and Smith.
National Association of Stationary Engineers.
Charleston Lodge No. 3. N. A. S. E. Meets first Saturday at 8 P. M. at 10 Arcade. O. H. Michaelson, cor. sec.
National Union.
Forest Council No. 134, National Union. Meets 2d and 4th Friday of each month at Kanawha National Bank bldg. W. B. Wilkin- son, sec.
Junior Order of United American Mechanics. Capital City Council No. 221, Jr., O. U. A. M. Meets every Wednesday evening at 7:30 in Elk Banking Co. Hall. V. T. Post, R. S.
Order of United American Mechanics.
Charleston Council No. 9. Meets every Monday evening in K. of P. Hall, 111/2 Capi- tol. Charles G. High, C. S.
Elk City Council No. 13. Meets every Fri- day evening in Elk Banking Co.'s Hall. Charleston cor. Tennessee av. Hubert Mel- ton. R. S., Indiana av. and Birch.
Lincoln Council No. 47. Meets every Tues-
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HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY
day evening in Odd Fellows' Hall, Capitol cor. State. C. W. Butts, rec. sec.
Riverside Council No. 46. Meets every Tuesday evening in I. O. O. F. Hall, Capitol cor. State. Robert Barnett, R. S., 10812 Cap- itol.
United Commercial Travelers.
Kanawha Council No. 21. Meets every 2d Saturday in K. of P. Hall, 111/2 Capitol. C. W. Ballard, sec. and treas .. 1412 Quarrier.
COLORED ORGANIZATIONS Pythians (Colored).
Capital City Lodge No. I. Meets Ist and 3d Thursdays in K. of P. Hall, Washington cor. Dickinson. Charles W. Boyd. 1127 Pied- mont rd., K. of R. and S.
West Virginia Lodge No. 60. Meets Ist and 3d Tuesdays in K. of P. Hall, Washington cor. Dickinson. George L. Cuzzens. 1216 Lee, K. of R. and S.
Order of Calanthe.
Phyllis Wheatley Court No. I. Meets 2d and 4th Tuesdays in K. of P. Hall. Washing- ton cor. Dickinson. Mrs. Mary J. Hazelwood. 1342 Washington. R. of D.
Masonic.
Washington Lodge No. 6. Meets Ist and 3d Fridays in K. of P. Hall, Washington cor. Dickinson. J. H. Taylor, W. M .: A. A. De- honey, sec., 1323 Lewis.
Grand United Order of Odd Fellows.
Kanawha Light Lodge No. 1637 ; chartered Sept. 1, 1874. Meets Ist and 3d Mondays in Frankenberger Hall. Kanawha cor. Summers.
Household of Ruth.
No. 163, G. U. O. of O. F. Meets Ist and 3d Tuesdays at Frankenberger Hall. Kanawha cor. Summers. Mrs. Lizzie Waynesboro. W. R., 1341 Lewis.
Colored Miscellaneous Societies and Clubs. Charleston Women's Improvement League. Mrs. M. J. Hazelwood, pres.
MISCELLANEOUS SOCIETIES AND CLUBS
Blunden Post, No. 73, G. A. R. Meets every 2d and 4th Saturday of each month at I. O. O. F. Hall, Capitol cor. State. Joseph
Bohnert, C .; W. H. Bonham, V. C .; Thomas Swinburn, Adj .; W. P. Hardway, O. of D .; C. B. McIntosh, Q. M .; Alexander Watts, chap- lain.
Blunden W. R. C., No. 6. Meets every other Tuesday at 2:30 P. M. in I. O. O. F. Hall,, Capitol cor. State. Mrs. Lottie Skees, sec., 415 Reynolds.
Capital City Trades Assembly. Meets every Sunday at 2 P. M. in hall 107-109 Capitol.
George Crook Post. No. 3. G. A. R. Meets Ist and last Friday of each month at 4 P. M. in I. O. O. F. Hall, Capitol cor. State. O. H. Michaelson, adjt., 9 Arcade.
George Crook W. R. C., No. 16. Meets Ist and 3d Friday at 2:30 P. M. in I. O. O. F. Hall, Capitol cor. State. Mrs. Emma Monta- gue sec., 702 Donnally.
Camp Thomas L. Broun, United Sons of Confederate Veterans. No. 193. Meets at the call of the commandant at the office of Payne & Payne, Kanawha Valley Bank bldg., 3d floor. Commandant, W. D. Payne: Ist lieut. com- mandant, V. T. Churchman: 2d lieut. com- mandant. Joel H. Ruffner : adjt .. R. P. Flour- noy : surgeon. Dr. P. L. Gordon : quartermas- ter. R. S. Spilman; color sergeant, T. A. Rob- erts : chaplain. Rev. H. G. Williams: treas .. Gunther Peyton.
Camp R E. Lee 887. United Confederate Veterans. Meets in I. O. O F. Hall on the first Saturday at 10 A. M. D. C. Lovett, adjt.
Charleston Chamber of Commerce. Meets fourth Thursday of each month at 6 Kanawha Banking & Trust Co. bldg. Charles Loeb, sec.
Charleston Chapter 151 United Daughters of the Confederacy. Meets 2d Monday of each month at members residences. Mrs. Ernest Von Schlectendal. rec. sec .. I.309 Virginia.
Charleston Typographical Union, No. 146. Meets last Saturday night of each month in Odd Fellows' Hall. Capitol cor. State. H. S. Tanett. sec.
Children's Home Society of West Virginia. Rev. N. O. Sowers, mngr., 1118 Washington.
Edgewood Country Club. Edgewood Drive. Henry Poindexter. sec.
Kanawha County Medical Society. Meets
.
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Ist and 3d Tuesday of each month in Hotel Kanawha Assembly Room. Dr. H. L. Rob- ertson, sec.
Kanawha Valley Central Labor Union, Frank W. Snyder, sec., 603 Virginia.
New Germania Club. Meets every Wednes- day evening (during winter months) in Elks Hall, Quarrier, cor. McFarland.
Stonewall Jackson Camp 878, United Con- federate Veterans. Meets 2d Monday of each month at State cor. Court, at 2 p. m. J. F. Wilcox, adj.
Taw Club, W. A. Williams, pres .; O. M. Buck secretary.
West Virginia Humane Society. Annual meeting at the Capitol in December. G. R. Thomas, agt.
West Virginia State Federation of Labor, 603 Virginia. F. W. Snyder, sec. and treas., 1577 Washington.
Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Meets every Wednesday at 3 p. m. at members houses. Mrs. W. A. Radford, rec. sec., 152I Washington.
Young Men's Christian Association, Capitol opp. State House. G. W. Atkinson, pres .; Peter Silman, vice pres .; W'm. B. Mathews, treas .; W. C. Florain, sec.
THE BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS
By Willard F. Comstock, Exalted Ruler.
Perhaps there are no charitable, social or benevolent organizations in the country which have made such rapid progress along the lines of their foundation or have attracted a larger or more substantial membership than the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, originating in 1868, with imembers of the the- atrical profession, but at present being open to every other, under certain restrictions. While not a beneficial order, it is claimed that it expends more in unostentatious charity than any other organization in the world. The basic principles of the organization attracted reliable men in every section and lodges were rapidly organized. Charleston, W. Va., enter- ing the field and for some years had a pros- perous lodge in operation. About 1897 the old organization was allowed to lapse.
Too many of the older citizens, however, had enjoyed the benefits of the order to forget and when an effort was made to reorganize, a hearty response came and in October, 1903, the lodge of Elks at Charleston regained its charter and has been prosperous ever since, now having a membership of 425 in good standing. There are fourteen lodges in West Virginia and it is estimated that there are 750,000 members in the United States. A sentiment of the order is expressed in the words-Dead but Not Forgotten-and a me- morial service is performed all over the United States for those members who have passed away, on the first Sunday of December, every year.
The Charleston Lodge of Elks, of which Willard F. Comstock is Exalted Ruler, occu- pies a fine brick house with dimension of 120 by 100 feet, standing on Quarrier street. It is luxuriously fitted up and is a credit to the city. Mr. Comstock has been particularly active in its affairs since 1904, and has served in official positions before his election to the highest office in the club.
THE YANKEE GETS IN HIS WORK IN KANAWHA
The first steamboat that ascended Elk river was the "Little Kanawha," in 1837. She went up as far as Queen shoals, distant twenty- six miles from Charleston. The second was the "Paul Pry," in 1838. She was chartered by a corporation or company of men from New York and Connecticut, who came to this section ostensibly to manufacture shoe pegs, axe handles and tool handles generally, but really to make some money. They brought with them turning-lathes and all the machinery necessary to the manufacture of the above mentioned articles. and doing business under the firm name of Smith & Sherman, they be- gan operations. There was at the time no more demand for their wares in this county than there is today for salt water in mid- ocean; but the work went on nevertheless. Cords upon cords of axe handles and other articles in proportion were made and ranked up. Bushels of shoe pegs were boxed and ready for market, but no buyers came.
A member of the firm came to Charleston,
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and offered to sell the stock on hand at what would have been ruinous prices in a section in which the said stock would have been in demand, but of course no purchaser could be found, so he returned without having effected a sale. A month or six weeks later, a gentle- man having a business-like appearance arrived in Charleston and advertised that he wished to purchase just such a stock as the company up Elk had on hand, and offering at the same time several times as much for it as the repre- sentative of the company had asked a month before. Two of Charleston's enterprising busi- ness men now saw a chance for a specula- tion(?), and quietly set off post haste up Elk, and upon arriving at the place where the com- pany operated, at once purchased the entire stock on hand, paying cash down for the same. Congratulating themselves upon the shrewd transaction which they were now performing, they wended their way back to Charleston, but upon arriving, lo, and behold! the would-be purchaser could not be found. He never was, and the explanation lies in the fact, as was afterward developed, that he was a member of the company. Many years passed away be- fore the victims of the first "Yankee trick" in Kanawha heard the last of it.
DISSENTING OPINIONS
We find many opinions recorded as to what might be termed "historic facts;" to several of which we will have to enter a dissenting opinion. These facts stated are but opinions, and every one is entitled to his opinion and whether right or whether wrong, without any apology or excuse; further than that we will not, by omitting to dissent, let it be said that by our silence we affirm.
Take for instance the case of Shadrack Harriman, who has been for a long while back reported as having been killed by the Indians in 1794 while he was coming to Charleston from his home, and that he was the last white man killed in the valley by the Indians. Dr. Hake records this as a fact and others have repeated it. We have to dissent. In the first Order Book of the County Court, on April 5, 1791, said court appoints Susanna Harriman and William Pryor administrators of the
estate of Shadrack Harriman, deceased; Jo- seph Carroll and Robert Wheeler were ap- pointed appraisers of Harriman's personal es- tate, and in 1792, the heirs of said Harriman were assessed with five horses and one negro. This evidently shows that he had been killed long before 1794, and of the fact of his being killed, we have no doubt, and hence he was not the last white man killed by Indians in the valley.
Again we find in the Recollections of John Boyer, that he states that in 1810, from Guyandotte to Catlettsburg, there was no house and says Peter Boyer, his father, car- ried the mail from Boyer's Ferry to Catletts- burg, and made a report of each house along the route and who occupied each house and that then there was no house between these streams or these towns in 1810. We again have to dissent. In 1809 Cabell county was organized and the courthouse was in Guyan- dotte, and there were several justices, a clerk and a sheriff of said county, and the road be- tween these places ran along on the bank of the Ohio river, and the first settlers' houses were along this road near the river, and that there were several of the justices of said county residing within the section mentioned as also the sheriff. There were Major Nathan- iel Scales, Thomas Buffington, Dr. Henry Hampton, Richard and Benjamin Brown and Harry Brown, the sheriff, and others that re- sided there while this part of the country was yet in Kanawha, and there is abundant evi- dence, of record, that shows these facts.
In 1792 George and William Clendenin gave bond in February for the cutting and clearing of a road from Charleston to the Great Sandy river, so that we think that the road had been opened, and there were houses along this road in which were residents prob- ably as early as 1805, and most certainly be- fore 1810.
It has been repeatedly stated that Thomas Hannan was the first settler in the county of Cabell and that he was on the Ohio as early as 1796 while part of Kanawha. He was charged with tax in 1793 and he had a suit tried at Kanawha courthouse in August, 1795. We think we are justified in saying he was on
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the Ohio as early as 1793, and certainly in in 1641, on a river running west and that the 1795 and long before 1796.
The Kanawha record proves that John Bailey, the husband of Ann, lived in Kanawha and on November 3, 1794, she presented his will to the Kanawha county court for probate.
It has been stated with some assurance that Norris S. Whittaker was the first white child born in Charleston and that his birthday was February 3, 1807. See Atkinson's History, page 278. As to the first white child born in Kanawha, was Jacob Young in 1789, the day the Indians attacked Tacket's fort at Coals- mouth. But General Lewis Ruffner was born in Charleston, and the same authority gives his birthday Oct. 1, 1793. Therefore, we must dissent from the conclusion stated on page 278, that Whittaker was older than Ruffner.
Again, we are told that there was a river discovered by Gov. Spottswood in 1716, just west of the Blue Ridge, that the governor gave it a name and that it was the first Chris- tian name bestowed upon a West Virginia river, and that the governor drank the health of the king in what is now Pendleton county, West Virginia. We dissent.
We also find it recorded that the Kanawha Falls were discovered in 1671 and again we dissent.
The first statement of discovery in 1716 does not correspond with the record made at the time by Mr. Fontaine. As to the discov- ery of Kanawha Falls in 1671, the facts stated do not authorize said conclusion. It is stated that Batts, Wood, Fallam, Neasam and Pere- cute on September I, 1671, left Petersburg ; on September 7th they were on the Blue Ridge; on the 13th of September they were on Swope's Knob, on the 14th they saw the high cliff walls of the canon of New river, and on the 16th of September they were at the Kanawha Falls. It is stated that they reached a curious river, which had a fall and made a great noise, and they set a mark to see if the river ebbed and found that it did slowly; that they could not stay longer and started home on the 17th, reaching home in October, 1671. We think that such a trip made at such a rate was not only unprofitable but impossible. We find that the "Falls of Bland" were discovered
Bland and the New was the same stream. In another instance a statement is made that, looking away from the crest of the Blue Ridge they saw the peaks about the birthplace of rivers, now in West Virginia; said birth- place of rivers is the head of the James, of the Potomac, of the Monongahela, the Gauley, etc., and it was impossible to see these hills from the Blue Ridge. We dissent.
As to the land on which the city of Charles- ton is built, it is stated in a deed in IO W. Va., 404, that the 1030 acres were conveyed to Geo. Clendenin by Cuthbert Bullitt in 1787, and that it was granted by the Commonwealth to Thomas Bullitt by patent 1779. Dyer Index, 52, says it was patented to Cuthbert and the copy at the auditor's office says it was surveyed in 1775, and patented to Cuthbert in 1779.
It has been said that Leonard Morris was the first permanent settler in Kanawha val- ley and that it was in 1775, and cites a deposi- tion to prove it. The deposition does not prove it and the family of William Morris, of whom Leonard was one, was at Kelly's creek in the fall of 1774.
There are some other data that might be used to correct some historic facts found in many places-mistaken facts, conclusions not justified by facts. Traditions and incorrect recollections, misprints, etc., are all very nat- ural, but when we are satisfied of mistakes they should be corrected, and to correct history is as material and important as to record it.
JUDGE LYNCH
Thomas Lee was murdered in December, 1875, at Campbell's creek bridge, six miles above Charleston by John Dawson and Rufus Estep. They were arrested and lodged in jail in Charleston, and the people of Malden and and Campbell's creek decided that there should be no escape of the punishment, and that they would attend to see the same duty adminis- tered without delay.
Sheriff Philip W. Morgan and deputies John W. Sentz, John T. S. Perry and Silas Morgan had charge of the jail and by some means heard of the approaching mob, and re-
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moved the prisoners to Cabell county and then to Wood county. A short time, several days, the sheriff was ordered to return the prisoners, which he did, but under protest. The mob gave the circuit court judge, Judge Smith, to understand that if he did not, they would hang the murderers. Mr. Freer and Burlew were appointed as attorneys for the de- fendants and moved the court for a change of venue, and Mr. Kenna and Judge Ferguson for the state opposed the motion. The court heard the motion and withheld his decision until the next morning, and that night the mob of about 300 persons took the prisoners from the jail to the same bridge and hung the men that did the murder at that place, December 24, 1875. A mob is a dreadful thing, but the attorneys were right in their motion, and evi- dently the court was satisfied thereof, although the prisoners were guilty.
The case of Thomas Hines .- A tailor killed J. W. Dooley, a colored shoemaker, in June, 1876. Hines was placed in the same jail with the other prisoners and when the mob came down for Dawson and Estep about fifty colored men joined them and took Hines to the same bridge and hung him to a locust tree nearby. Dooley was a peaceable man and had given Hines no reasonable offense. At that time it was the first trial of the kind, but it cannot be said to have been the last.
SOME EARLY MARRIAGES
1792-Thomas Smith and Elizabeth Young, by Francis Watkins.
1793-William Miller and Elizabeth Frick, by Francis Watkins.
1793-Martin Harwide and Susan Ellison, by Francis Watkins.
1793-Charles Young and Sarah Morris, by Francis Watkins.
1793-Samuel Henderson and Sally Don- nally, by Francis Watkins.
1794-David Melbourne and Susanna Har- rison, by Francis Watkins.
1794-John Megs and P. Clendenin, by Francis Watkins.
1794-William Hall and Polly Seamonds, by Francis Watkins.
1794-Lawrence Bryan and Mary Morris, by Francis Watkins.
1795-Joseph Burwall and Mary Upton, by James Johnson.
1795-Joseph Clyman and Ruth Briggs, by James Johnson.
1795-Mathias Young and Milly Holliday, by James Johnson.
1795-William Rider and Polly Tackett,
by James Johnson. 1795-Jacob Van Bibber and Sarah Miller, by James Johnson.
1795-Fleming Cobb and Sarah Morris, by James Johnson.
1795-Samuel Cobble and Susanna Crow, by James Johnson.
1795-James Moss and Elizabeth Carroll, by James Johnson.
1796-Benjamin Hadley and Nancy Rey- ling, by James Johnson.
1796-John Tackett and Johanna Castale, by James Johnson.
1796-James Robertson and Elizabeth Sim- aptos, by James Johnson.
1796-Joseph Hilyard and Elizabeth Mor- ris, by James Johnson.
1796-Thomas Beels and Mary Wilson, by James Johnson.
1796-Daniel Irwin and Peggy Compton, by James Johnson.
1796-Robert Iron and Mary Balliton, by James Johnson.
1796-John Morris and Mary Ann Cole- man, by James Johnson.
1796-James Van Bibber and Jean Irvin, by F. Watkins.
1797-James Van Bibber and Louise Rey- nolds, by F. Watkins.
1797-William Owens and Nancy Creage, by F. Watkins.
1797-Machias Van Bibber and Margaret Gardner, by F. Watkins.
1797-Goodrich Slaughter and Hannah Van Bibber, by F. Watkins.
1799-John Young and Kasiah Townsend, by James Johnson.
1799-Stephen Tackett and Mary Kerr.
1799-John Buckle and Mary Hind Upton.
1799-James Thompson and Elizabeth Thornton, by James Johnson.
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1799-James McRoberts and Polly Kenner, by James Johnson.
1799-John Cavender and Sarah Casdorph, by James Johnson.
1799-Thomas Asbury and Leah Cattett, by James Johnson.
1799-David Smith and Mary Briggs, by James Johnson.
1799-Michael Buck and Lucretia Pryor, by James Johnson.
1799-James Gordon and Isabella Calis- ton, by James Johnson.
1799-Thomas Cobbs and Elizabeth See, by James Johnson.
1799-Nathan Huddleston and Margaret Girard, by James Johnson.
1799-Caleb Price and Ann Smith, by James Johnson.
1799-Joseph Upton and Mary See, by James Johnson.
1800-Ruell Daggs and Nancy Johnson, by James Johnson.
1800-Rowland Wheeler and Nancy Hill, by James Johnson.
1800-Charles Venable and Catherine Mor- ris, by James Johnson.
1800-James Shirkey and Mary Beals, by James Johnson.
1800-John Huff and Barbary Darling, by James Johnson.
1800-Henry Harman and Elizabeth Par- singer, by James Johnson.
1800-William Clayton and Sarah Smith, by James Johnson.
1800-John Tackett and Sarah Hilyard, by James Johnson.
1800-John Slack and Comfort Samuels, by James Johnson.
1800-James Murdock and Jane Graham, by James Johnson.
1800-Henry Montgomery and Nancy King, by James Johnson.
1800-George and Lucy, slaves of George Welch, by James Johnson.
SOME GOOD OLD COLORED FOLKS
There have always been some good colored people in Charleston. Almost all of them have "gone where the good niggers go" and we wish to claim them as Charlestonians. We
do not mean that those we mention are all of them-not pretending to be exclusive nor to mention all-but we wish to record the names of a few colored people that are and were, and have always been known to be truthful and trustful, reliable, and safe, honest and worthy, and good all the time-born that way!
Tom McCown was always safe and trust- worthy and reliable and could not be spoiled. Washington Primus has it written on his monument that "he was an honest man."
Washington, a blind man, a servant of Judge Brown, was known all his life to be truthful and reliable-strictly honest.
Noah Colley came to Kanawha in 1814, was a drayman, and undertaker and sexton of the Presbyterian church until 1869, and was al- ways relied upon and was safe.
Randall Miller, known as "Uncle Doc," was a hack driver and wagoner and was good as gold.
Israel Rue was born in Pennsylvania in 1777. He sued for his freedom and gained his cause. He lived on Davis creek until he was nearly 100 years old and all that time was known to be a good, honest man.
Judy Grinnan was a good woman and re- liable and true.
Dabney and Simon Page had the confidence of all people always.
Peggy Bradford was always what a good woman should be and she was always with the best of people and much respected.
Wilson Harris and his wife Isabella Harris were always sent for when anyone was needed to help, man or woman, and they were both taken into the people's houses, respected, and relied on by all. Wilson on October 28th, IQII, celebrated his 90th birthday and is yet one of Charleston's reliable men, and a man of worth.
Perry Harden and Jenny his wife, were the servants of Judge Summers. Perry has gone and Aunt Jenny is quite old-they were good people and deserve great credit for their faith- fulness. Perry's hearty laugh was worth a for- tune. one which only an honest soul could have.
William Armstead was another who was full of truth and in whom all men had confi- dence; was always quiet and polite. He was
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set down as a member of the Kanawha Rifle- men and went into the Civil War with the boys and stayed with them to the end, and came home and continued to enjoy the respect of all men. He was a cook in the company of sol- diers, was a barber and always had a good shop and plenty of customers. He afterwards read law, applied for and obtained a license to practice law and knew what it was to be a gentleman at all times.
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