USA > West Virginia > Mineral County > Keyser > History of Keyser, West Virginia, 1737-1913 > Part 5
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"My friends, if I am ever so fortunate as to gain entrance into the heavenly City of the New Jerusalem and walk down those golden streets, and as I gaze about in rapture, if I do not see my good friend, Charlie Rolls, I shall wonder how Thomas Carksadon' ever got there."
WILLIAM H. MCILWEE 1879-1944 Whose God-Given Talents Inspired This Town To Love and Play Music
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Chapter 20
Condensations of Excerpts from the Special Edition of the Keyser Tribune of July 1898 (Vol. 29, No. 1)
Keyser is on the main lines of the Baltimore and Ohio and the West Virginia Central Railroads. The population is now 3,300, altitude 900 feet above sea level.
The water works - built at the expense of a $45,000.00 bond issue. The source, a spring 290 feet higher than the town, with a resulting pressure of 126 pounds per square inch. Now (1898) the bond issue is reduced to $37,000.00.
Municipal officers:
Mayor-Wm. M. Welch
Sergeant and Treasurer-Charles F. Vest
Councilmen-F.M. Reynolds
James T. Carskadon James H. Rine Harry G. Buxton
Recorder and Assessor-Silas N. Atkins
Total bonded indebtedness $37,000.00. Assessed value of real estate $465,000,000.00. Town taxes are 70 cents of $100.00 Telephone System
Recently installed-operated under franchise by the Gordon Telephone Co.
The Burlington Telephone Co. is leased by the Gordon Telephone Co., as far as Burlington, where it connects with a complete system in operation to Romney, Moorefield, Petersburg, and Franklin.
The B&O Shops were moved here from Piedmont in the early 1870s and in 1896 were moved to Cumberland, Md., and then citizens here raised $10,000, for the R.R. company to move them back.
Largest Carriage and Wagon Works in the State.
A. P. Ritzell began in 1879, moved to West Street in 1883. A. P. Ritzell was born in Cumberland, Md., in 1853; he married Annie M. Keys in 1880.
The Keyser Bank
Chartered July 15, 1886; capital stock $50,000. President, F.M. Reynolds; vice-president, W.J. Babb; James Thornton Carskadon, cashier; Jesse A. Sharpless, assistant cashier.
Directors: John D. Gelwicks, George T. Carskadon, N.J. Crooks and J.H. Markwood.
J.B. Fitzer & Co.
Store established October, 1897. General store.
C.W. Siever & Co. Hardware, stoves, and tinware, wholesale and retail business established June 1, 1895, at corner of Center and N. Water Streets. (Now Chevrolet Car Lot).
Nefflin's Store
Corner of Main and Armstrong Streets. Run by Paul H. Nefflin, son of Emil Nefflin, of Piedmont, who began business there in 1854, and who came from Wurtemburg, Germany, coming to America in 1848. Paul H.'s grandfather, John Hefflin, was a prominent German jurist and author of several valuable books.
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Richardson Bros. & Co. Furniture Manufacturers.
Milton G. and Richard G. Richardson located in Keyser in 1875, and began their furniture business on Davis Street, 1880. Business expanded and they bought a building on Armstrong Street, later occupied by the "Mountain Echo" paper. After they started the factory, they sold the store and undertaking business to J.H. Markwood in 1891.
M.J. McNally, New Stock of Harness, Came from Elk Garden. William Ellsworth Crooks
Born in Zanesville, Ohio, November 22, 1862. Raised in Hardy County. Had position in U.S. Census Office, Washington, and later was in real estate in Washington where he married a Mrs. Estes. Moved to Keyser in 1893. Had the cigar and stogie factory here at 107 South Main Street, named the Crooks Tobacco Co. He and his wife have built a "palatial" home at 76 S. Mineral St. known as "Buckeye Cottage."
Gem Pharmacy
J. R. Criser, Proprietor, Lawrence L. Kimes, Manager, North Main Street. (later Romig's Drug Store, old location). Was opened a year ago last May. Mr. Kimes is a registered pharmacist, who has been in the drug business for the past six years. The proprietor, Mr. Criser, is a conductor on the B&O RR and has. worked for it for 36 xears (since 1862).
Dan C. Quinn, Merchant
Main Street, where Rinard's Jewelry Store is now. Store was founded 1882 by L. M. Shepherd & Co., of Cumberland, Md. Mr. Quinn was its first manager. He purchased it in 1888. He was born in Hampshire County, and was at one time a town councilman.
The Keyser Public Schools
Conducted on a professional basis. High School affiliated with State University.
Present school board head - Jesse A. Sharpless; W. E. Fazenbaker, commissioner; George R. Davis, Piedmont, secretary. The school building on S. Mineral Street was built in 1882 for $15,000.
Keyser's scholastic population is 752 whites, 55 colored. The amount of money spent for school salaries for term 1897-98 is $4,986.00. The number of teachers employed is 12. School term - 9 months (teacher's pay about $400.00 per year).
The High School has an alumni association. R. M. Collins has been principal since 1895.
The Electric Light Plant
Keyser Electric Light Co., North Mineral Street. Building erected in 1895. Capacity with motors now installed is 1000 - 16 candle-power incandescent lights and 40 - 2000 candle-power arc lights. The town streets are lighted with arc lights. Officers and directors: F.M. Reynolds, president; Arthur W. Coffroth, vice president; N.J. Crooks, manager and treasurer; Directors, W.E. Crooks, H.G. Buxton, J.H. Markwood, and J.T. Carskadon.
Authorized Stock $50,000.00.
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J.H. Markwood-Furniture & Undertaking - N. Main Street.
In 1878, Mr. Markwood purchased the stock of several small furniture stores here, consolidating them into one store at the corner of Water and Center Streets, (where Ludwick's Used Car Lot is now), where he conducted his business until 1890, at which time he built a brick store building on N. Main Street (now site of Farmers and Merchants Bank), carries a stock of $5,000 to $6,000.
He has studied embalming under Prof. Hohenschuh and Prof. Sullivan.
Keyser Woolen Mills
The town's most important industry. Corner of East and Mozelle Streets. The plant was founded by and is under the management of Arnold C. Scherr, in 1893. Weekly out-put $750 to $1,800.
Mrs. L.A. Criser, Fine Millinery and Notions, N. Main St.
Mrs. Criser is assisted by her two daughters, Clara and Nellie, and by Miss Etta Clary.
J.M. Fisher, Artistic Photography
From Hardy County, resident of Keyser since 1883.
Keyser Churches
The First Methodist, organized in 1850. Present building on Davis Street, built March, 1894. Cost about $12,000. Pastor, Rev. J.O. rightson.
Grace M.E. South, organized 1875, in basement of Court House. Church erected 1876. Membership now 250. Sunday School 300. Pastor, Rev. J.H. Light.
Presbyterian Church
Church at corner of Main and E. Piedmont Streets, built in 1893; cost about $10,000. Present pastor, Rev. J.H. Moore in 1890. Membership then 35, now 190. Until Rev. Moore's advent here, the Piedmont church was included in this pastorate.
Christian Church
Meets in Carskadon's Hall - Pastor, Rev. W.H. Patterson.
St. James Catholic Church - James Street.
Pastor, Father Drake.
Janes' M.E. Church, the negro church.
Wm. C. Clayton, Lawyer
Born in Hampshire, W.Va., Jan. 24, 1831; now 67 years old. Admitted to Bar 1859. His father was T. Clayton, M.D., of Romney. Attended Classical School at Romney and the University of Virginia in 1847-1848.
Jesse A. Sharpless
Born in Elk Garden in 1844. Attended Fairmont Normal School. Taught school in Piedmont for seven years. Was County Superintendent of schools for 3 terms. Moved to Keyser in 1881, where he was deputy sheriff for eight years. Became teller and acting assistant cashier at Keyser Bank in 1890. Married Carrie A. Nesbit in June 1881.
George T. Carskadon
Founded store in Keyser in 1874, corner of Main and Center Streets.
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Daniel T. Greenwade - Storekeeper
Established Keyser store- 1884, and established a branch store in Cumberland later.
N.J. Crooks
Born in Zanesville, Ohio, January 16, 1861, son of Capt. W.B. Crooks (Civil War). His great uncle was General Crooks, the famous Indian fighter. Came to Keyser 1880; traveling salesman for Bear and Sons Wholesale Grocery, Wheeling, W. Va. Married Mrs. Emma Lee in September 1882.
Crooks Tobacco Company
Factory located 107 S. Main Street. Leading brands made - "Crooks Old Cuban" and "Congress Perfecto." Recent days shipment 32,000 c
gars. Made of Havana tobacco with Sumatra filler. President; N.J. Crooks, Vice-president; E.F. Nine, Secretary; W.E. Crooks, Manager; J.M. Trexler.
J.M. Bright's Livery Stable
Son of E.C. Bright. Father ran a stage between Morgantown and Fairmont for 31 years and came to Keyser in 1881. His father had mail contract between Keyser and Moorefield, Maysville and Petersburg. Father bought livery stable from Knight and Purgitt in 1889. Three years later, father gave one half of livery stable to son, Jesse. On April 15, 1895, Jesse bought out father's half in location near the Keys House Hotel. Was born in Morgantown in 1871. Married Nannie M. McIlwee of Romney, Oct. 20, 1894.
George W. Bane, Oldest Insurance Agency, Keyser.
City Market, Main Street
R.M. Workman, proprietor, employs James Roby as butcher. Father had general store at New Creek in 1870s.
Walter Lowry, grocer and market gardner. Came to Keyser after Civil War. Was in pottery business in Roseville, Ohio, where he married Aurilla Weaver in 1868.
Cyrus P. Grimes, Livery stable, Davis Street.
Secret Orders
Davis Lodge No. 5, A.F.&A.M., instituted Feb. 24, 1889.
I.O.O.F. Queen's Point Lodge No. 78, instituted Sept. 25, 1875.
Knights of Pythias, Olive Branch Lodge No. 25, instituted March 3, 1875.
Ancient Order United Workmen, Potomac Lodge No. 7, instituted Sept. 2, 1891.
Junior Order, United American Mechanics, Enterprised Council No. 20, instituted 1889.
Mineral County Officers (1898)
R.W. Dailey, Jr. - Judge of Circuit Court
J.V. Bell - Clerk, Circuit Court
Frank C. Reynolds - Prosecuting Attorney
W.E. Heskett - Sheriff
L.V. Davis - Deputy Sheriff
Floyd Knight - Deputy Sheriff
Thomas P. Adams - County Surveyor
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C.F. Hahn - Supt. of Schools.
D.C. Arnold - Assessor, West District.
P.M. Dayton - Assessor, East District County Commissioners -
P.S. Minshall
Michael Masteller
George Arnold
Clerk, County Court - J.V. Bell
Deputy to Circuit and County Courts - J.A. Fifer
Tax rate for county purposes - 35c per $100.
Population in 1890 - 12,085 (County population)
Area of county - 300 sq. millses.
John D. Gelwicks, Shoe Merchant
Born in Boonsboro, Md. Nov. 1846. Hand made shoes a specialty. He was not a shoe mender. He measured the foot and made the shoe.
City Hotel, corner Main and Armstrong Streets
Mrs. Julia Haughton, Prop. 8 rooms and bar. Established 1888. Home cooking, "Old National Whiskey," rates per day $1.00.
A Bonus Tip for the Reader
Here is a genuine recipe used in the Keyser saloons on how to make three barrels of whiskey out of one barrel.
Pour out 2/3 of a barrel of whiskey into another container. Into the remaining third in the first barrel, put:
3 twists of Picknic Twist Chewing tobacco
1 small can of Cayenne Pepper
1 medium sized box of snuff
2 Tablespoons of Lye
Fill barrel with water. Let stand two weeks. Stir with a wooden paddle, twice daily.
Strain into bottles and serve over the bar.
This was actually used in Keyser.
This will make you so sick, you'll forget your troubles.
THE END
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