USA > West Virginia > Summers County > History of Summers County from the earliest settlement to the present time > Part 18
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WM. CRUMP DIED.
Major Wm. Crump, the owner of Crump's Bottom, died March 6, 1877. He was a native of Virginia, born September 11, 1793, married Miss Gillie Law in 1816, and removed to Summers County, in that part then Mercer, in 1855. He purchased the famous
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Crump's Bottom, on New River, opposite the mouth of Indian, which was first known as Culbertson's Bottom, then Reed's Bot- tom, then Crump's Bottom, and is now partly owned by Geo. W. Harmon and by the heirs of John T. Shumate, deceased. This magnificent plantation is the finest estate in the county. It is six miles long. The large brick residence was constructed by Major Crump many years ago, on an eminence in the bend of the New River, overlooking same. Major Crump was a Primitive Baptist in religious matters, having connected himself with that church in 1805. He was a gentleman by birth and a nobleman by nature. So genial was his nature and so generous his hospitality that neither in peace nor in war was a stranger turned hungry from his door. He belonged to that old class of plain Virginia gentleman rapidly passing away, and no doubt in a few years will be known only in legendary history of the land. He was succeeded by his son, William B. Crump, who died some twenty years ago, having divided his estate between his daughters and their husbands, Col. John G. Crockett and his wife Ella, and W. C. Crockett and his wife Mary, who resided on the plantation for a number of years, and from them the title and possession passed to the present own- ers. Col. John G. Crockett was a Virginia gentleman of generous impulses. He represented the county in the Legislature two terms. Wm. C. Crockett later became a preacher in the M. E. Church South. He is a warm-hearted Christian gentleman, and now resides in Southwest Virginia. Col. John G. Crockett, who was an afficer in the Confederate Army during the war, died in California in 1906.
It was in 1877 the vote was taken throughout the State on the permanent location of the capital. In this county Charleston re- ceived 1,410 votes ; Clarksburg, 3; Martinsburg, 1. This vote was taken at the school election. The candidates for county superintend- ent were D. G. Lilly, who received 515 votes; Charles L. Ellison, who received 318 votes; Rufus Deeds, 481 votes: Rev. H. C. Tins- ley, 6 votes. No political nominations were made. This election was held August 18, 1877.
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The first first-class hotel of any consequence opened in Hinton was the Hotchkiss House, erected and conducted by John M. Car- den, the present efficient assistant deputy clerk of the county court. The building is still standing, opposite the court house, and is now occupied by Mr. Carden as a private residence. It was opened as a hotel August 23, 1877. It was named for Jed. Hotchkiss, the cele- brated promoter, soldier and civil engineer.
It was on the 20th of July, 1877, that Captain Dolittle, the Dep-
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uty United States Marshal, was shot in Jumping Branch District, on the Giles and Fayette turnpike. He was shot in the leg and arm by moonshiners, while making a raid on these alleged violators of the internal revenue laws, which were claimed to infest the west side of New River in those days. The shooting caused a great furor through the press at that time, and much criticism was brought out for and against the action of the Government officials.
The number of children enumerated, that were entitled to at- tend the free schools in the county this year, was 2,357.
It was in 1877 that the Hereford Guards, the first military or- ganization in the county, was organized. It was a fine company of men, not connected, however, with the army of the Republic, but was a State organization. The election of officers took place on August 30. N. M. Lowry was elected captain; L. M. Dunn, first lieutenant ; W. H. Thompson, second lieutenant ; R. A. McGinnity, first sergeant; W. C. Ridgeway, second sergeant ; B. L. Hoge, third sergeant ; Jas. H. Hobbs, fourth sergeant; M. M. Breen, first cor- poral; W. H. Pemberton, second corporal.
In those days squirrel hunts were a favorite pastime. One was held at Shumate's, in Pipestem, at which 115 were killed with rifles.
In 1877, 110 freight cars were shipped out from the yards per week, which was considered a large business.
The county levy for 1877 was 85 cents, and an additional levy of ten cents to pay on old drafts.
At the September term of the court in 1877, Ed. Kelley, the afterwards famous old darkey of Scrapper's Corners, was sentenced to the penitentiary for eighteen months for assault at the round . house ; and James Fisher, of Forest Hill District, sentenced to five years for horse-stealing.
It was in October of this year that M. Bibb was called to the pastorate of the First Baptist Church, which continued until he resigned on account of ill health.
John McGee, the present chief of police of the city of Hinton, with his father, O. McGee, were the first butchers who ever estab- lished the butcher business in Summers County. Their slaughter- pens were near the present residence of A. G. Fredeking, in the lower part of Hinton. They were from Spottsylvania, Virginia.
The county levy for 1877 amounted to $7,952.19. The amount expended during that year was $6,706.50.
On October 11, 1877, W. A. Quarrier, then fish commissioner, placed 5,000 black bass in Greenbrier River at Caldwell. This was
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
the first stock of these fish placed in that river, which was done at the request of Major John W. Harris.
The first photograph gallery that was established in the county was in October, 1877, by F. M. Starbuck, in Avis.
The first drug store ever established in the county was at New Richmond, by Dr. Samuel Williams and Dr. N. W. Noel, during the construction of the C. & O. Railway, in 1872. The first drug store established in Hinton was by Dr. Patterson, on the corner of Third and Summers Streets, in the present Peck Building.
The volume of business done at Talcott Station, shown by C. E. Lacy, the first agent at that place, in 1877, showed: Tobacco, 210,322 pounds; other freight, 1,558,312 pounds. The freight at Lowell in 1877 was 2,625 cattle, 815 hogs, 2,375 sheep, 10,400 pounds of tobacco. It was then only a flag station. The famous Tom Quinn had some time before this established, during 1877 and 1878, and was operating, his fleet of batteaux boats on New River, from Shanklin's Ferry to Hinton. His wharf was at Upper Hinton, and the freight carried consisted largely of tobacco, farm products and lumber, tobacco largely predominating. Pipestem and Forest Hill, in those days, were large tobacco producing districts, an industry which has long since been entirely suspended.
The freight shipped from New Richmond depot in 1877 amount- ed to 4,010,307 pounds. The West Virginia powder mills were completed at New Richmond in 1877, and the manufactured prod- uct amounted to 600 pounds per day. The falls of Lick Creek, one-half mile above its mouth, were utilized for water power. A substantial dam was constructed on top of these falls. The powder factory was built about three hundred yards below, and the water conveyed by a race thereto. The building was a two-story frame, with a large overshot water-wheel. The company was organized by Eastern capitalists, General Williams and Jos. L. Beury, the celebrated coal operator of Fayette, being interested ; but the con- cern was not substantially backed financially, and was later aban- doned. Finally the plant was burned by incendiaries, and the dam went to destruction from the elements. Before its destruction, however, it went into the hands of a receiver, and was sold under the hammer.
In April, 1878, Captain N. M. Lowery placed another supply of black bass at Wiggins, four miles from its mouth.
Captain Orberson was also operating a fleet of boats up and down New River, consisting of the Black Swan, Lilly Dale, Black Maria and Wild Goose.
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
Barger's Springs Postoffice was established in May, 1878, with William H. Barger the first postmaster. The postmasters since have been: W. G. Barger, Andrew L. Campbell and E. L. Dunn. Jas. H. Bledsoe died in 1878. He was the first successful mer- chant who engaged in the mercantile business on Lick Creek, in Green Sulphur District, after the war. In those days he hauled his goods from Charleston, Jackson's River, and later from White Sulphur Springs. A little box of matches, containing 100, sold at ten cents; straw hats, sewed together with flax thread, for $1.00; a barrel of Kanawha salt sold at $9.00.
It was in 1878 that the first Catholic Church was completed, which was located in Hinton, and is the building now occupied for the Catholic rectory, on the lot upon which is now situated a hand- some brick Catholic church. This church was erected through the efforts of Father David P. Walsh.
In May, 1878, Adam Poff, from Jumping Branch District, killed a catamount three feet long and twenty inches high, the largest known to have been killed within the county.
The contract for keeping the paupers for 1878 was awarded to D. G. Lilly, at $619. In 1877 it had been awarded to the same gen- tleman for $1,000.
In 1878 a great storm visited the flat top country. John Vest's house was unroofed, and a pine tree was torn up and carried sev- eral miles and deposited in his field. A heavy iron kettle was blown away and never found.
In 1878 the construction of a steamboat was undertaken by a number of enterprising citizens of the county, and on the 15th of June a great excursion was pulled off from Hinton to the mouth of Bluestone, consisting of boats in the river and vehicles by land, practically all of the population turning out. Speeches were made, a large amount of subscriptions to the enterprise being secured. The boat was afterwards completed, and known as the "Cecilia." It made a few trips between Hinton and Bull Falls, but proved to be a failure, being too large for the rough waters through which it had to pass. The promoters of the enterprise lost largely.
The Methodist Episcopal Church South was formally dedicated in June, 1878; Vincent W. Wheeler, pastor ; Rev. Dr. J. J. Lafferty preaching the dedication sermon.
Whitcomb Lodge, No. 62, A. F. & A. M., was installed in 1878; and it was during this year that the first appropriation made by the Government for improving New River was made by Congress.
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
The Hinton postoffice was not made a postoffice money-order office until June, 1878.
Bears were still occasionally seen in this section of the country as late as 1878. In July of that year a large black bear was seen crossing the field of L. Ballengee, just above Hinton.
In 1878 Jos. Keaton, at Pipestem, found a rifle ball in a tree near its heart, while riveing boards. This rifle ball had been fired into this tree 135 years before. He counted the growths, and found, according to this count, that the ball was fired 135 years before.
Summers County was yet without a jail, having used the Ra- leigh jail, and in August, 1878, the county court adopted the jail of Greenbrier County, which was continued until the jail now in use was constructed. The first jail, however, used for the county, was the one-story, one-room log house still standing in Avis.
But one justice of the peace had been elected in Pipestem Dis- trict prior to 1878; but the population having increased over 1,200, the second justice was first elected for that district in this year.
The first colored Baptist Church in the county was begun in Hinton in August, 1878.
Shan. Rollison, a son of Chas. Rollison, the founder of Rollins- burg, was an independent candidate for the Legislature in 1878, lut withdrew before the election in a strong letter to the people advocating the election of the Democratic nominee; and he is still a Bryan Democrat. B. S. Thompson was candidate for clerk of the county court against E. H. Peck; M. Gwinn, for the Legislature. R. F. Dennis, of Lewisburg, was nominated August 6, 1878, for State Senate, to represent the Eighth Senatorial District.
J. M. Carden was also a candidate for clerk of the county court, E. H. Peck being elected.
On August 22, 1878, a public meeting of the citizens of Hinton was held at the court house, for the purpose of taking action to- wards securing a graded school for Hinton, to be taught ten months. This was the first action towards a high school in Summers County.
James Johnson, the venerable colored citizen of Avis, was dur- ing this time in his palmy days. He was captain of Captain Tom Quinn's "Black Swan," plying between Hinton and the salt works. "Uncle Jim," as he is usually known, is now nearly ninety years of age, still hale and hearty, independent, votes for whom he pleases, and is the oldest river man in the county.
The Covington & Ohio Railway was originally incorporated in March, 1866, by an Act of the Legislature, which provided that no
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
taxation should be imposed until the profits were ten per cent. on capital ; and another Act, of February, 1867, provided for the com- pletion of this road and consolidation with the Virginia Central; the West Virginia Central, the South Side, with the Norfolk & Petersburg R. R. Company, and for completion of the work of the Chesapeake Railway to the Ohio River; and on consolidation the new company became vested with all the property rights, privileges and franchises which may have vested in either of the other companies prior to the acts of the consolidation : the consoli- dated roads thereafter taken to be known as the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Company ; and the charter of the C. & O. Railroad Company was confirmed January 26, 1870. It was by virtue of these acts of the Legislature that the C. & O. Railway Co. claimed indemnity for many years from the burdens of taxation, and not the Act of 1875. Long litigation eventually followed, resulting finally in a decision of the Supreme Court of the United States requiring payment of taxes the same as individuals. Afterwards the C. & O. Railroad Co. went into the hands of a receiver, was sold, reorganization took place, and was succeeded by the Chesa- peake & Ohio Railway Company. The Newport News & Missis- sippi Valley Co. was organized, and took over the entire system, under which name it was operated for a year or two, but after- wards reverted to the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co.
The markets of November 27, 1877, showed eggs at 1212 cents per dozen; good butter, 20 cents; chickens, $1.50 per dozen; tur- keys, 15 cents per pound ; corn, 50 cents per bushel ; oats, 30 cents per bushel; wheat, $1.10; rye, 60 cents ; meal, 50 cents ; and beef, 7 and 8 cents per pound.
A. Williams, the courteous proprietor of the hotel at Beckley, began operating a hotel in Hinton in 1878, and continued for sev- eral years.
The improvements by the United States Government, with J. Proctor Smith in charge, began September 18, 1878, and contin- ued for some time. Large channels were cut through the shoals and shallow places, aiding the batteaux in passage; but otherwise no practical benefits have been derived. The operations were se- cured by the energy of Frank Hereford, a lawyer of Union, then in Congress.
It was on the 9th of September, 1878, that the great greenback speech of Henry S. Walker was delivered at Hinton. He was the greatest orator ever produced by the State, and one of the greatest
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
ever produced by any country. He was replied to on this occasion by Hon. Robt. Dennis, of Lewisburg, and Captain Elbert Fowler, of this county ; and on the same day Dr. B. P. Gooch was nominated for delegate to the Legislature over Hon. M. Gwinn. The Green- backers at this election nominated a ticket. John Graham was an independent candidate for the Legislature at this election.
The lumber mills of William James & Sons were built in the fall of 1878.
The August election for 1878 showed the following results : John E. Kenna, Demorcat, for Congress, 748 votes; Walker, Green- back-Fusion, 205 votes: R. F. Dennis, State Senate, 646; Alex. Knight, Rep., 505; B. P. Gooch, Legislature, 585; J. C. Woodson, Greenback-Fusion, 503: John Graham, Independent, 289; B. L. Hoge, for circuit clerk, no opposition ; E. H. Peck, Democrat, 737 ; B. S. Thompson, Democrat, 484; J. M. Carden, Democrat, 176. No nominations were made for county officers, except for House of Delegates.
The State school fund in 1878 was distributed as follows: For- est Hill District, $466.204 Greenbrier, $876.90; Green Sulphur Dis- trict, $523.90; Jumping Branch District, $545.60; Pipestem Dis- trict, $467.35; total, $2,879.75.
William Hughes and W. C. Crockett were elected justices of the peace for Pipestem.
In October, 1878, Josiah Lilly, of Jumping Branch District, was shot by Geo. W. Solesberry, with intent to kill. Lilly offered a reward of $25 for the apprehension of Solesberry. Solesberry was never apprehended, but was indicted about twenty years after- wards and acquitted.
The. steamboat "Cecilia" was launched on the 7th of Novem- ber, 1878, and made its trial trip December 19th. Its length was 120 feet ; 20 feet wide at beam, 124 feet boiler, carrying 175 pounds of steam ; 28-inch cylinders, 30-inch stroke, with powerful dummy engine. It was named after Mrs. Cecilia Miller, wife of William J. Miller, a locomotive engineer, who first suggested the steamboat scheme. J. H. Gunther, then railway agent at Hinton, was active in its promotion. R. R. Flannagan was also a large stockholder. The boat was entirely too large, and was, after a few trips, aban- doned, and the loss was practically total. It was scheduled to make three trips a week.
The first brick school building was constructed in 1879. The citizens held a mass-meeting at the Baptist Church, and began an
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
agitation, which resulted in the construction of what was then considered a fine building. It was two stories, with four rooms, and was located where the present modern building is now situ- ated.
On January 5, 1879, Captain Wm. A. Reid died on his farm in the extreme upper end of the county. He was a gallant soldier in the Confederate Army, and returned to his farm after the war, and was elected justice of the peace, which office he held at the date of his death. Prof. John D. Swinney, now of Pittsburg, Pa., married his daughter. W. C. Crockett was appointed justice of the peace for Pipestem District as his successor.
The appropriations made for New River improvements in 1879 amounted to $12,000.
J. H. Barger, a prominent farmer of Forest Hill District, also engaged in the manufacture of tobacco, died in March, 1879, at his residence in that district. He was an intelligent and enterpris- ing citizen, and an uncle of W. A. Barger. the present member of the county court.
The public school in the city of Hinton was taught in 1879 by Dr. W. H. Manser and Miss Anna Hoge. The terms in those days were four months. In 1880 the school was taught by Chas. A. Clark and Jas. H. Miller.
The county court for this year fixed the number of days' work on the public roads at six days for each man over twenty-one years and under fifty.
The first agitation for oil and salt in this region, after the con- struction of the railroad, was in 1879, when the Hinton Oil, Salt & Mineral Co. was organized in March, the purpose being to bore for oil, salt and other valuables. J. W. Fuller was president, and M. A. Riffe, treasurer. Considerable prospecting was done, and finally a well put down 600 feet, just beyond Stretcher's Neck tun- nel, at McKendree; but nothing came of it. Considerable talk was indulged in that there was salt at Meadow Creek, by reason of the cattle congregating at a certain point near that place and using it for a lick. They came from all the region round about. When a farmer lost his stock, he usually found that they had strayed off to this point in search of salt water.
The first trial for murder in this county was that of Page Ed- wards, a colored man, for killing his wife, on March 15, 1879. About the same time Hugh J. Wilburn killed Geo. W. Farley at Pipestem. Wilburn being suspicious of Farley, prepared himself
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with a shotgun, found Farley at his house, and, when he under- took to run away, shot him deliberately, however, having serious provocation therefor. Wilburn left the country, and has never re- turned from that day to this. He was closely pursued by G. L. Lilly, deputy sheriff, but succeeded in making his final escape. Edwards killed his wife at Talcott, and was tried at the April term, 1879, by the circuit court. He was defended by Mark Jarrett, a young lawyer of Greenbier County, a son of James Jarrett, who had recently graduated, and was an orator of growing reputation, and who died several years afterwards in Portland, Oregon.
The population of Hinton, including Avis, on June 12, 1879, from a census taken at that time, showed 775 whites and 225 blacks, a total population of 1,000. The number of youths between six and twenty-one years was 170 whites and 70 blacks. This was quite an increase, without a boom, as there were in the spring of 1873 only six houses in the town, and two years before but two.
The assessment in 1879 showed the number of horses and mules in the county to be 1,539, valued at $51,921 ; number of cattle, 3,- 596, valued at $41,078; number of sheep, 4,426, valued at $4,426- one dollar a head; number of hogs, 862, valued at $1,886; total value of personal and real estate for that year being $793,295, a de- crease of $41,000 from 1878. There were 1,449 white male inhab- itants over twenty-one years of age, and 128 colored, making a total population of male inhabitants between those ages within the county for 1879 of 1,577.
It was on the 17th day of January, 1879, the famous negro riot began in Hinton. A fight occurred between Lon M. Peck, then a telegraph operator, and Pointdexter, a negro, after which the ne- groes undertook to mob Peck, and a riot ensued, the whites turn- ing out in full force, and for some time a young rebellion was in operation. The miners came up from New River coal regions and whipped a number of negroes, among them being Jim Nickell. Cary Lewis and Dick America, the leaders, who were driven from town.
In July of this year James Johnson, colored, caught a catfish at the mouth of Bluestone River which weighed thirty-nine pounds -one of the largest ever caught in the county.
The Hinton Milling Co. was organized July 25, 1879, in which Captain R. H. Maxwell and some gentlemen from Cleveland were interested, including J. R. Carmack, who operated in this section for some years, building a large steam mill on the bank of New River, from where the old Mills mansion had been washed away.
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
Col. J. J. Swope afterwards acquired the property, which later passed into the hands of J. A. Graham and D. M. Meador, and was finally destroyed by fire about five years ago.
A school election was held on August 5, 1879. The candidates were D. G. Lilly and Jas. Prince. Lilly received 472 votes, and Prince 322. J. C. James was elected president of the Board of Ed- ucation of Greenbrier District; Henry Milburn, member of the board.
The first attempt made to incorporate the territory now in- cluded in Avis and Hinton into a town was made on the 12th of August, 1879, the vote being against incorporation. A year after- wards Hinton voted to incorporate its present territorial limits, leaving Avis in the country. It was in July of this year that the Red Sulphur Springs, in Monroe County, near the Summers County line, was sold to Morton, Bliss & Co., of New York, for $9.000. A well was drilled at the mouth of Piney about this time for oil. Gas was discovered at a depth of 300 feet.
Captain N. M. Lowery, a Hinton lawyer, was appointed fish commissioner in 1879.
The financial statement for that year showed: Receipts, $6,- 531.85; disbursements, $5,580.79. It was in this year also that the Hinton "Banner," a Greenback paper, suspended publication.
The State fund for this year was distributed as follows: Forest Hill District. $436.76: Greenbrier, $889.53; Green Sulphur, $446; Jumping Branch. $491.14: Pipestem, $419.14; total for the county, $2,683.15.
Col. W. B. Sprowl, the veteran hotel man, of the firm of Sprowl & Perkins, proprietors of the New River Hotel, one of the first hotels established in the town, died October 9, 1879.
The postoffice at Clayton was established in November of this year : and in the same month a second telegraph wire was strung between White Sulphur and Hinton, there being but one line prior to that time.
It was on November 13, 1879, that the celebrated house robbery of Crockett's store was done, by Jarrett Ballard, Henry Clark, Jas- per Wiseman and Green Evans, by which they secured $675 in cash and a large amount of merchandise. They went under the house and cut through the floor. Through the energy and activity of Captain Fowler one confessed, and the whole gang was captured and sentenced to the penitentiary.
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