USA > West Virginia > Hampshire County > History of Hampshire County, West Virginia : from its earliest settlement to the present > Part 32
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running expenses of the society had been paid, the remain- ing funds should be expended in buying books; that a mem- ber who should use profane language in presence of the society, or bring spirituous liquors to the meetings, should be fined one dollar for each offense. The election of offi- cers resulted in the selection of Mr. Magill as president, Mr. Wodrow secretary, and Dr. Temple as treasurer. This constitution was adopted February 4, 1819.
The next meeting was held in the court house, Febru- ary 13, and the debate for the evening was on the question: "Ought a representative be governed by instructions from his constituents?" The decision was for the affirmative. On February 19 the question for debate was: "Is educa- tion in a public school better than that of a private school?" The decision was in favor of the public school. At this meeting the first money appropriated by the society was paid the doorkeeper. The sum was twenty-five cents. On February 26 the affirmative won in a debate on the ques- tion: "Is a system of banking advantageous to a com- munity?" On March 6 a question somewhat more psycho- logical in its nature was discussed. It was an abstract question of religion: "Can the human mind, by its own reflection, arrive at the conclusion that the soul is immor- tal?" The society decided in the negative. For ten years the society met at least twice a month, and usually four times. The questions debated covered ali ranges of top- ics, scientific, religious, political, social. Some of them may have been "in the abstract so far as politics and religion are concerned, " at that day, but viewed from the present standpoint, some of them scem almost partisan. For example, they debated and decided in the negative the question: "Is a protective tariff detrimental to the inter- ests of the country?"
The first money to buy books was appropriate 1 April 23, 1819. Two volumes were bought, "Plutarch's Lives of Illustrious Men" and "Vallett's Laws of Nations." This
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was the humble beginning of the splendid library accumu- lated during the succeeding forty years, and which was scattered and almost destroyed during the Civil war. On July 2, 1819, the balance of money in the treasurer's hands was two dollars and forty-six cents, but by October 23, following, sufficient funds were on hand to buy "Rollins' Ancient History, " "Lewis' Roman History," and "Robert- son's History of Charles the Fifth." No more books were bought till near the close of the next year. when "Livy," "Tacitus" and "Marshall's Life of Washington" were pur- chased. Three months later a bookcase was purchased. About this time, 1821, an act was passed by the Virginia assembly incorporating the "Library Society of Romney." The charter granted was not satisfactory to the society, because it required changes which had not been asked for, one of which was the name. The members considered that they had a "literary" society, not a "library" society. The assembly was asked to amend the charter, which was done a year or so later, and after many delays and debates the new charter was accepted by the society February 4, 1823, and it became "The Literary Society of Romney, " a. name which it ever after retained.
In April, 1821, the new books added to the library were "Hook's Roman History," "Herodotus," "Travels in Greece," "Modern Europe," "Ramsay's History of the United States," and the "Works of Benjamin Franklin." In May, 1822, a spirited debate took place on the question: "Is it to the interest of the people of Hampshire to encourage the canalling of the Potomac?" Unfortunately, no record exists of the arguments advanced in this dis- cussion, but the decision was that it would be detrimental to the interests of Hampshire county, to have a canal built along the Potomac. It is presumed that the objection to the canal was that it would destroy the business of team- sters who hauled merchandise from the east. Such, at least, was the objection to building the Baltimore and 30
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resistant Ohio railroad. The society had passed a by-law that any member who published one of his own, or anybody else's, speeches delivered before the society should pay a fine of five dollars. Consequently no speeches were published. The society adopted a new. constitution in 1824.
In the eleven years, between January 30, 1819, and Jan- uary 22, 1830, the names of fifty-two members appear on the books of the society. They were: Francis A. Arm- strong, Thomas Blair, Joseph W. Bronaugh, R. W. Baker, James H. Clark, William Curlett, James Dailey, Andrew W. Dailey, Joseph P. Eblin, David Gibson, James Gibson, Andrew Gibson, Isaac A. Inskeep, Henry M. Inskeep, James R. Jack, C. T. Jack, John G. Jack, Samuel Kerche- val, Nathaniel Kuykendall, Thomas McDonald, Charles T. Magill, John McDowell, William Mulledy, Alfred T. Magill, Angus McDonald, Edward C. McDonald, John H. McEndree, Henry M. Machen, William S. Naylor, Robert Newman, William Nalyor, Granville Newman, E. W. Newton, Cuthbert Powell, James Parsons, Peter Peters, Thomas Ragland, James M. Stephens, John Snyder, William Sherrard, John Temple, Warren Throckmorton, William Thompson, Chichester Tapscott, Newton Tap- scott, John A. Thompson, William C. Wodrow, John B. White, Thomas B. White, Washington G. Williams, Neill Armstrong.
No record of the proceedings of the society can be found covering the period from January 22, 1830, to May 15, 1869, nearly forty years. The records of this period are supposed to have been destroyed during the war. This is to be regretted, because during that period the society did its great work. Without doubt many members were on the rolls during these years whose names cannot now be ascertained; but, although the historian is com- pelled to pass over their individual acts without mention, yet the result of their work stands as a monument to their memory. It is learned from the proceedings of the Vir-
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was the vembly, and from other sonrces, that the great work of the society began in 1832. On January 6 of that year the assembly passed an act authorizing the society to raise by lottery the sum of twenty thousand dollars to be expended in educational purposes. A detailed statement of how the money was expended cannot be found; but it is known that large sums were paid for books; a building was erected; strong financial support was given to the Potomac academy, which stood near the site of the present court house. On Febuary 15, 1844, the Virginia assembly passed an act authorizing the society to donate to the Rom- ney academy the balance of the money raised by lottery; and on December 12, 1846, another legislative act was passed empowering the society "to establish at or near the town of Romney, a seminary of learning for the instruction of youth in the various branches of science and literature; aud the society may appropriate to the same such portion of the property which it now has or may hereafter acquire, as it may deem expedient." In accordance with this act a handsome building was erected on the site of the present institute for the deaf and blind. In fact, the old building forms a part of the larger institution, as will be detailed more fully in this chapter. The splendid library of the society was removed to the new building, and a school was opened under the most auspicious circumstances. Few schools in the state of Virginia at that time had access to better libraries. In September, 1849, the society prepared a code and a system of by-laws for the government of the Classical institute.
In October of the same year the principalship was tend- ered to Dr. Foote, who considered the proposition and finally declined to accept it, and founded an opposition school, called the Potomac seminary. Thereupon Pro- fessor Meany was chosen as principal of the Classical in- stitute. The difference between Dr. Foote and the society, which led to his refusal to accept the principal-
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ship, was in regard to the appointment of the assistant teachers and the amount of their salaries, and the manner of paying them. The literary society and the school flourished until the beginning of the Civil war. The disas- trous four years, from 1861 to 1865, brought ruin to many a southern enterprise. The Literary Society of Romney suffered irreparable losses. Nearly all the members joined the confederate army, and the building and books remain- ing in Romney were considered legitimate plunder by the union troops. It is a wonder that a book remained. No list of the books at the commencement of the war can be found, but those who are familiar with the library say that fully three-fourths of the books were carried away or de- stroyed. The most valuable were never recovered. There were about three thousand volumes in 1861. About two hundred remained on the shelves when the war was over, but a considerable number of others were subsequently found, and the library contains perhaps seven hundred volumes now. But the value of these is greatly lessened by the sets being broken. Some sets of ten or twenty vol- umes now contain only three or four books. Other sets are all gone but one or two, and others are all missing. A cyclopedia which cost over eighty dollars, and was bought in 1826, is gone. It is no wonder that the members of the society were discouraged when they came home from the war and saw the ruins of the library which had cost much money and the labor of half a century. What remained seemed scarcely worth bothering with, and not until May 15, 1869, was an effort made to revive the society and col- lect what remained of the books. A meeting was called for that date, and the members who responded to the call were, A. P. White, William Harper, James D. Armstrong, A. W. Kercheval, Robert White, John C. Heiskell, Samuel R. Lupton, David Entler and James Parsons .. Many who were members in 1861 did not respond to the roll call of the society in 1869. They were at rest in soldiers' graves
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by the rivers of Virginia. Those who were elected new members between 1869 and 1886 were, Lemuel Campbell, J. J. Inskeep, J. D. Parsons, Robert J. Pugh, John T. Vance, T. T. Brady, James A. Gibson, S. L. Flournoy, R. W. Dailey, Dr. R. W. Dailey, Henry B. Gilkeson, John C. Covell, E. M. Gilkeson, C. M. Davis, John S. Pancake, H. H. Johnson, C. S. White, R. G. Ferguson, I. H. C. Pancake, Wilbur Wirgman.
A new hall was erected in 1869 and in November of that year the remnants of the library, and the other property were moved to the new quarters. At that time the prop- osition of establishing a school in West Virginia for the deaf and blind was under consideration; and the literary society took up the work of securing the institution for Romney. On April 12, 1870, the society passed a resolu- tion by which it was agreed to deed, free of cost, the buildings and grounds of the Romney Classical Institute to the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institute, on condition that the institute be located in Romney. The regents met in Wheeling April 20, 1870, and A. W. Kercheval and Robert White were sent by the Romney society to make the formal offer of the buildings and grounds to the regents. The offer was made, and in a short time was accepted by the regents. The society appropriated three hundred and twenty dollars, July 11, 1870, for the purpose of repairing and putting in good condition the building, preparatory to turning it over to the regents. The transfer was made, and the valuable property passed into the hands of the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institute.
After that the literary society met only occasionally. There is no record of any meeting from March, 1872, to April 1878. The last meeting of which there is any record was held February 15, 1886. The full results of the labors of the Literary Society of Romney cannot be measured. The influence for good has been very great. The principal visible results may be summed up in the collection of a fine
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library; the substantial support of the Romney academy; the founding and support of the Romney Classical Insti- tute; and great influence and assistance in securing for Romney the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institute. It detracts none from the credit due to others to say that without the aid of the literary society it is barely possible that the institute for the deaf, dumb and blind could have been secured for Romney.
CHAPTER XXXIX. - ‹0>
LITERARY WORKERS.
BY HU MAXWELL.
Hampshire county, which is pre-eminent in many things, is not wanting in writers of note. Elsewhere in this book will be found a history of the newspapers and editors who have helped mold and lead public opinion in Hampshire; and in this chapter will be given a sketch of the lives, with extracts from their writings, of those who have ventured farther into the fields of literature.
JOHN J. JACOB, father of Gov. John J. Jacob, published in 1825 a book which possesses much historical value. It was the life of Michael Cresap, the well-known Indian fighter. Cresap lived opposite the mouth of the South branch, on the Maryland side of the Potomac, and after his death, Mrs. Cresap became the wife of Mr. Jacob. The purpose of the book was to correct a widespread error regarding the part taken by Captain Cresap in the Dunmore war. The charge had been made, and was given wide circulation by Thomas Jefferson, and by other writers, that Cresap had murdered the family of the cel- ebrated Indian Chief Logan, and by that act plunged the border into war with the Indians. Mr. Jacob's book un- dertakes to prove, and it does prove conclusively, that Cap- tain Cresap did not murder Logan's family, and that the Dunmore war was not brought on by anything done by Cresap.
GEORGE ARMSTRONG WAUCHOPE, formerly of Hampshire county, but now professor of English language and litera- ture in the university of Iowa, has won a reputation in the
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field of letters, both as a writer and editor. He was born in 1863, and graduated from the university of Virginia 1884, and two years later received the degree of master of arts, and later that of doctor of philosophy. He taught Greek and Latin, and studied in Germany. He made a specialty of early English and the kindred languages, and won distinction in that field of investigation. He is one of the staff reviewers for The Critic of New York, and the editor of De Quincey's Revolt of the Tartars, and of the Confession. He has written in both prose and poetry. The following sonnet on the death of Dr. William Shrader, who sacrificed his life while experimenting with the Roent- gen rays on consumption germs, will show his style.
O noble friend! high hopes inspired thy breast, Who lately wrapped all pale in Azrael's pall Was borne from sad Missouri's classic hall. Thou daredst unclasp old Nature's book, to wrest From some dim page of her fast-sealed bequest To mortals under foul disease's thrall,
A potent charm, the dread fiend to appall. Unselfish, thou refusedst needful rest,
But with unswerving toil consumed the night On duty, testing the mysterious ray, An humble martyr to the cause of truth.
Grasping the white torch of world-girdling light, Thou hast passed forth, for the high gods did say, "Let him, our well beloved, die in youth!"
· ANDREW W. KERCHEVAL, born 1824, contributed much to the literary culture of Hampshire. He came from a family eminent for learning. On one side he was related to the Wodrows, an old Scotch family of sterling worth. He inherited French blood from his father's ancestors, who were Huguenots. They fled to England from France to escape persecution. There were two brothers of the name, Samuel and Lewis Kercheval, Samuel dying in Lon-
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don, Lewis making his way to Virginia, and settling near the Chesapeake bay. There he married and reared a family. His sons moving to the Valley of Virginia, William, grandson of Lewis Kercheval the founder of the American family, was one of the earliest merchants of Winchester, and his son, Samuel Kercheval, the historian, was born in Winchester before the Revolutionary war. Samuel was the father of twelve children, the eldest, Samuel, being a lawyer, and the father of the subject of this sketch. He came to Romney to write in the clerk's office under Andrew Wodrow, and married the clerk's daughter, Emily Jean Wodrow. He lived for a time in Kentucky, but returned to Virginia where he died in 1840. Sketches of the other branches of the Kercheval family cannot be given here, suffice it to say that men of that family have been prominent in all the honorable walks of life in many states of this union. John Kercheval, a great- uncle of Andrew, was an efficient officer in the patriot army under Washington. He it was who carried the wounded Reverend Charles Myron Thruston, the famous "fighting parson," off the battle field of Monmouth. Ben- jamin B. Kercheval was a prominent citizen of Detroit, Michigan, and was at one time the law partner of General Cass. Lewis Kercheval, another member of the family, was one of the first mayors of Chicago. Captain Thomas Kercheval was an aid of General Harrison at the battle of Tippecanoe. Another Kercheval of the same family was an early mayor of Nashville, Tennessee.
Andrew W. Kercheval, nearly all his life, was a member of the Romney Literary society and contributed to the success which that society attained. He was a writer for newspapers and magazines, and undertook several preten- tious literary works, but never finished any of them. He published a pamphlet of criticisms and notes on a poem, "Idothea," written by Professor Joseph Saliards, of Vir- ginia. But Professor H. H. Johnson, of Romney, is
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entitled to a share of the credit for that pamphlet, as he and Kercheval wrote it together. Kercheval undertook the compilation of an exhaustive history of the war of 1812, but never finished it. He also revised his grandfather's History of the Valley, but left the work in manuscript. He collected material for a History of the Upper Potomac, but that, too, was left unfinished. He commenced the study of many languages, and acquired considerable pro- ficiency in several of them. He read French, German, Spanish, Italian, Latin, Greek and Hebrew. At the begin- ning of the civil war he left Romney and went south, not as a soldier, but as a speculator. He had a contract to supply the confederate army at Richmond with soap, and realized a large sum; but the confederate money ultimately became worthless and he lost it all.
Mr. Kercheval occasionally contributed verses to the newspapers. It is all in a dignified, serious, reflective strain, no touch of humor, with no satire in it. The fol- lowing extracts from longer poems will show the character of his verse:
EPICEDIUM.
Gone out the flame of those soul-lighted eyes, That flashed with glory, beamed with tenderness, Or rose in joy, and darkliest sank in gloom, Twin stars of hope and love, of faith and fame! And hushed that voice discoursing music rare, That wooed young love, and thrilled the hearts of men, An anthem rolled through vast cathedral aisles, Or clarion's blast or harp-string's dying swell: And that heroic, faithful, generous heart, Shedding o'er life divinity and power,
Crowning with glory the fair brow of love, To home, to altars, to bright honor true, Transformed to marble, by the touch of death!
Alas my soul Is filled with sadness, even nature's face
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Hath lost its old, accustomed lovliness, While memory sorrows for the cherished dead. Dead? Yet thy life unperishing remains, High, priceless thoughts, and winged words that bear Parturient power, and bright example given To teach us, while we waste or weary here, Truth, honor, genius triumph o'er the grave!
LIFE'S MISSION. Prometheus-like, the fire celestial caught, Explore far fields of action and of thought, And then, O heart! subdued by toil and pain, Confess the rock, the vulture, and the chain! Ah, but to feel, in some awakened hour, The conscious pride of virtue and of power, Victorious eagles through the world to bear, To vanquish death and triumph o'er despair, To win from fate some envied, high renown, Or conquest's laurel, else the martyr's crown, With curious weapon that thyself hadst wrought In other years-old armories of thought. Yet this may be ambition's vainest dream, Like starlight mirrored in a treacherous stream. O God of Heaven, give me power to feel Truth in all brightness o'er my spirit steal; Subdue in me this earth born, lowly pride- Hark! the good angel whispers at my side:
"And canst thou o'er life's errors weep, Faith's utmost holy vigils keep? The oil of gladness sweetly shed Upon thy fallen brother's head? Affections' soft and shadowy wing O'er hearts that hate thee, gently fling? Canst thou, with equal mind, and great, Brave the Thermopyla of fate?"
Above all fortune, even above the fame
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That servile waits upon a great man's name; Brighter than all of worldly, vain success; Purer than all its vaunted happiness- To feel thou hast some path of duty trod, True to thyself, to country, and to God; Or won how well in glory's phantom field, "Non Omnis Moriar," written on thy shield! Do thou thy duty, duty's path is plain, And thy life's mission shall not be in vain.
After the war Kercheval returned to Romney and spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1896. He and his sister, Miss Mary S. Kercheval, lived together, and she survived him.
JAMES W. HORN, a resident of Capon Bridge, and a stu- dent in the West Virginia university, has occasionally con- tributed verses to the columns of the papers. One of his best, "Capon River," is here given:
CAPON RIVER.
Capon river, sparkling water, Running, never asking rest; Old Potomac's southern daughter Rushing to your mother's breast.
Bathing banks of bramble bushes, Shoving sand and shells ashore, Outward each broad breaker pushes, Reaching for a wider floor.
Moistening massy beds of mosses, Sprinkling shining silver spray, Catching leaves the light wind tosses, Smiling in the glare of day.
Drinking water from the mountains, Drinking autumn's chilling rain, Quaffing down the brooks and fountains, Breaking winter's icy chain.
Stealing summer's sunny showers,
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Draining drops that try to stay On the bright and blooming bowers That above your sarface play.
Here with gentle calmness flowing, Making motion merely seen; Here with greater swiftness going Steep and stony banks between.
Sometimes measured murmurs making, Sometimes music soft and low; Sometimes into torrents breaking, Londer music, swifter flow.
Peaceful, cheerful, ever singing, Not despised although small; No city walls your echo ringing, . Sounding no Niagara Fali.
Treasured not in song nor story, Knowing naught of history's page, Covered not with fame nor glory, Acting in the current age.
Yet to me, O, Capon river, There's no other river flows, That, of half the joys is giver, Which your daily song bestows.
Sing more sweetly, sing more loudly, Through the years that are to be; Flow more grandly, flow more proudly, With the seasons, fast and free.
H. L. SWISHER was born in Hampshire county in 1870; passed his early years on the farm of his father, on the Levels. At eighteen years of age he became a school teacher in his native county. Later he attended the state normal school at Fairmont, and graduated. After visiting the northwestern states, and making a journey through Manitoba, Assiniboia, Alberta and British Columbia, he
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spent two years in California, part of the time teaching school. After that he returned to West Virginia and en- tered the university at Morgantown, graduating in three years. While in that institution he edited the college paper, the Athenaeum. In the meantime he published a small book of poetry, containing about six hundred lines, and dedicated it to his class-mates in the normal school. He contributed numerous articles to the newspapers while in the west, usually in prose, but occasionally in verse. He was one of the authors of the present volume, the His- tory of Hampshire County. Extracts from his published verses follow:
LOTTIE DOON.
No more the angels come to earth, I've heard them say. This was, in truth, my thought Until today; But now I know they come, A bright boon; For I have seen thy face, Lottie Doon.
Not of earth were you born, This I know; You winged your way from heaven To us below.
Your smile would change the midnight Into noon.
It has banished all my sorrow, Lottie Doon.
There is beauty in your face, This is true; But 'tis not half the beauty Seen in you. Your cheeks are like the roses Blown in June,
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Yet more beautiful your soul, Lottie Doon.
For your soul shines in your face, Gladdening all,
And to worship at your feet I would fall.
Your pathway all through life Shall be strewn
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